Enhancing Photocatalysis: Understanding the Mechanistic Diversity in Photocatalysts Modified with Single-Atom Catalytic Sites.

Surface modification of heterogeneous photocatalysts with single-atom catalysts (SACs) is an attractive approach for achieving enhanced photocatalytic performance. However, there is limited knowledge of the mechanism of photocatalytic enhancement in SAC-modified photocatalysts, which makes the rational design of high-performance SAC-based photocatalysts challenging. Herein, a series of photocatalysts for the aerobic degradation of pollutants based on anatase TiO modified with various low-cost, non-noble SACs (vanadate, Cu, and Fe ions) is reported.

Kinetics and Optimization of the Photocatalytic Reduction of Nitrobenzene.

The photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline in alcoholic solutions appears as an interesting alternative to the classical hydration. However, little is known about the influence of reaction parameters on the kinetics of the reaction which were therefore studied herein. The effects of light intensity, catalyst concentration, initial concentration, and temperature were systematically investigated under more than 50 different conditions and accurately described with an appropriate kinetic model.

Grafted iron(iii) ions significantly enhance NO oxidation rate and selectivity of TiO for photocatalytic NO abatement.

Semiconductor photocatalysis could be an effective means to combat nitrogen oxides (NO ) based air pollution through mineralisation of NO to nitrate. However, most of the typically TiO-based catalysts employed show a much higher reactivity towards NO than NO, leading to an accumulation of this unwanted and toxic intermediate. By grafting the photocatalyst with small amounts (≤0.

On the underlying mechanisms of the low observed nitrate selectivity in photocatalytic NO abatement and the importance of the oxygen reduction reaction.

Semiconductor photocatalysis could be an effective means to combat air pollution, especially nitrogen oxides, which can be mineralized to nitrate. However, the reaction typically shows poor selectivity, releasing a number of unwanted and possibly toxic intermediates such as nitrogen dioxide. Up to now, the underlying principles that lead to this poor selectivity were not understood so a knowledge-based catalyst design for more selective materials was impossible.

Hierarchically structured nanoporous carbon tubes for high pressure carbon dioxide adsorption.

Mesoscopic, nanoporous carbon tubes were synthesized by a combination of the Stoeber process and the use of electrospun macrosized polystyrene fibres as structure directing templates. The obtained carbon tubes have a macroporous nature characterized by a thick wall structure and a high specific surface area of approximately 500 m²/g resulting from their micro- and mesopores. The micropore regime of the carbon tubes is composed of turbostratic graphitic areas observed in the microstructure.

Pseudomorphic transformation of amorphous silica microtubes into mesoporous MCM-41 type silica tubes. Synthesis, characterization and surface functionalization with titania, vanadia and zirconia.

Silica tubes with MCM-41 type mesostructures were successfully synthesized by a combination of the Stoeber process and a pseudomorphic transformation using electrospun macrosized polystyrene fibres as structure directing templates. Two different morphologies of mesoporous silica tubes are accessible with this method: a hollow morphology with tunable silica wall thickness and with a mesoporous silica shell structure and a core containing amorphous silica. All one dimensional tube like porous silica materials have a high specific surface area of approximately 1000 m(2) g(-1) with well-ordered hexagonal mesopores.