Magnetic Field-Enhancing Photocatalytic Reaction in Micro Optofluidic Chip Reactor.

A small external magnetic field (100-1000 Oe) was demonstrated to enhance the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) using TiO NPs in micro optofluidic chip (MOFC) reactors. The rectangular shape of the fluidic channel and TiO deposited only onto the lower glass substrate leads to a selectively enhancing photocatalytic reactions by magnetic field in specific directions. Utilizing ethyl alcohol as a scavenger presented the difference between generated hot-hole (hVB) and hot-electron (eCB) pathways of photocatalytic reactions.

Synthesis, characterization and enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity of graphene supported TiO2 nanocrystals with coexposed {001} and {101} facets.

It is known that the combination of TiO2 and graphene and the control of TiO2 crystal facets are both effective routes to improve the photocatalytic performance of TiO2. Here, we report the synthesis and the photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance of graphene supported TiO2 nanocrystals with coexposed {001} and {101} facets (G/TiO2-001/101). The combination of TiO2 and graphene enhanced the crystallinity of TiO2 single nanocrystals and obviously improved their dispersion on graphene.

Production of renewable fuels by the photohydrogenation of CO2: effect of the Cu species loaded onto TiO2 photocatalysts.

The efficient gas phase photocatalytic hydrogenation of CO2 into a desirable renewable fuel was achieved using a Cu-loaded TiO2 photocatalyst system. Enhancing the amount of Ti(3+) relative to Ti(4+) in a Cu-loaded TiO2 photocatalyst provided an excellent opportunity to promote the photohydrogenation of CO2. The coexistence of Cu and Cu(+) species during the photoreaction was shown to efficiently enhance the photocatalytic activity by prolonging the lifetime of the electrons.

Monolayered Bi2WO6 nanosheets mimicking heterojunction interface with open surfaces for photocatalysis.

Two-dimensional-layered heterojunctions have attracted extensive interest recently due to their exciting behaviours in electronic/optoelectronic devices as well as solar energy conversion systems. However, layered heterojunction materials, especially those made by stacking different monolayers together by strong chemical bonds rather than by weak van der Waal interactions, are still challenging to fabricate. Here the monolayer Bi2WO6 with a sandwich substructure of [BiO](+)-[WO4](2-)-[BiO](+) is reported.

Functionalized Fe3O4@silica core-shell nanoparticles as microalgae harvester and catalyst for biodiesel production.

Core-shell Fe3O4@silica magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with a strong base, triazabicyclodecene (TBD), were successfully synthesized for harvesting microalgae and for one-pot microalgae-to-fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, or so-called biodiesel) conversion. Three types of algae oil sources (i.e.

Enhanced enzyme stability through site-directed covalent immobilization.

Breakthroughs in enzyme immobilization have enabled increased enzyme recovery and reusability, leading to significant decreases in the cost of enzyme use and fueling biocatalysis growth. However, current enzyme immobilization techniques suffer from leaching, enzyme stability, and recoverability and reusability issues. Moreover, these techniques lack the ability to control the orientation of the immobilized enzymes.

Artificial sunlight and ultraviolet light induced photo-epoxidation of propylene over V-Ti/MCM-41 photocatalyst.

The light irradiation parameters, including the wavelength spectrum and intensity of light source, can significantly influence a photocatalytic reaction. This study examines the propylene photo-epoxidation over V-Ti/MCM-41 photocatalyst by using artificial sunlight (Xe lamp with/without an Air Mass 1.5 Global Filter at 1.

Enhanced xylene removal by photocatalytic oxidation using fiber-illuminated honeycomb reactor at ppb level.

The removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at ppb level is one of the most critical challenges in clean rooms for the semiconductor industry. Photocatalytic oxidation is an innovative and promising technology for ppb-level VOCs degradation. We have designed a fiber-illuminated honeycomb reactor (FIHR) in which the removal efficiency of m-xylene is significantly enhanced to 96.

Water and temperature effects on photo-selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide on Pd-loaded TiO2 photocatalyst.

Photo-selective catalytic reduction (photo-SCR) of nitric oxide (NO) was studied in the presence of water. The incipient wetness impregnation was applied to prepare 1 wt% PdO/TiO2 photocatalyst. Steady-state photoreaction was carried out in a continuous-flow photoreactor with 0.

Enhanced protein stability through minimally invasive, direct, covalent, and site-specific immobilization.

Bioconjugating protein to nonbiological surfaces is an essential component of many promising biotechnologies impacting diverse applications such as medical diagnostics, biocatalysis, biohazard detection, and proteomics. However, to enable the widespread economical use of immobilized-protein technologies, long-term stability, and reusability is essential. To enhance protein stability in harsh conditions, herein we report a minimally invasive and covalent bioconjugation that enables precise control of the immobilization location at potentially any surface-accessible location where the incorporated unnatural amino acid does not impact protein structure and function.

Photocatalytic reduction of NO pollutant using an optical-fibre photoreactor at room temperature.

Photo-assisted catalytic reduction of nitric oxide (NO) was studied over different metal-loaded TiO2 catalysts at room temperature. The activities of metal-loaded (Pt, Ag, Cu) TiO2 photocatalysts, prepared by the sol-gel method, were compared in a batch system using CH4 as the reducing agent. The Pt/TiO2 catalyst showed the highest activity for NO reduction.

Artificial photosynthesis over crystalline TiO2-based catalysts: fact or fiction?

The mechanism of photocatalytic conversion of CO(2) and H(2)O over copper oxide promoted titania, Cu(I)/TiO(2), was investigated by means of in situ DRIFT spectroscopy in combination with isotopically labeled (13)CO(2). In addition to small amounts of (13)CO, (12)CO was demonstrated to be the primary product of the reaction by the 2115 cm(-1) Cu(I)-CO signature, indicating that carbon residues on the catalyst surface are involved in reactions with predominantly photocatalytically activated surface adsorbed water. This was confirmed by prolonged exposure of the catalyst to light and water vapor, which significantly reduced the amount of CO formed in a subsequent experiment in the DRIFT cell.