Observation of inherited plasmonic properties of TiN in titanium oxynitride (TiON) for solar-drive photocatalytic applications.

This study demonstrates the synthesis of titanium oxynitride (TiON) via a controlled step-annealing of commercial titanium nitride (TiN) powders under normal ambience. The structure of the formed TiON system is confirmed via XRD, Rietveld refinements, XPS, Raman, and HRTEM analysis. A distinct plasmonic band corresponding to TiN is observed in the absorption spectrum of TiON, indicating that the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) property of TiN is being inherited in the resulting TiON system.

Utilizing 2D materials to enhance H generation efficiency via photocatalytic reforming industrial and solid waste.

Sustainable valorization of industrial and solid wastes by utilizing them as feedstock to generate H via the photocatalytic reforming (PR) process holds great promise. It can also be an effective method to treat solid waste that otherwise would require tedious and expensive processes. This approach has the potential to offer energy solutions and form value-added chemicals.

Gram-scale synthesis of ZnS/NiO core-shell hierarchical nanostructures and their enhanced H production in crude glycerol and sulphide wastewater.

Design and development of the efficient and durable photocatalyst that generates H fuel utilizing industrial wastewater under solar light irradiation is a sustainable process. Innumerable photocatalysts have been reported for efficient H production, but their large-scale production with the same efficiency of H production is a challenging task. In this study, a few gram-scale syntheses of ZnS wrapped with NiO hierarchical core-shell nanostructure via the surfactant-mediated process has been reported.

Monodispersed core/shell nanospheres of ZnS/NiO with enhanced H generation and quantum efficiency at versatile photocatalytic conditions.

This investigation is first to elucidate the synthesis of mono-dispersed ZnS/NiO-core/shell nanostructures with a uniform thin layer of NiO-shell on the ZnS-nanospheres as a core under controlled thermal treatments. NiO-shell thickness varied to 8.2, 12.

Light-driven transformation of biomass into chemicals using photocatalysts - Vistas and challenges.

Lignocellulosic biomass has become an important sustainable resource for fuels, chemicals and energy. It is an attractive source for alternative fuels and green chemicals because it is non-edible and widely available in the planet in huge volumes. The use of biomass as starting material to produce fuels and chemicals leads to closed carbon cycle and promotes circular economy.