Solar-Driven Hydrogen Peroxide Production via BiVO-Based Photocatalysts.

Solar hydrogen peroxide (HO) production has garnered increased research interest owing to its safety, cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. The synthesis of HO relies mainly on renewable resources such as water, oxygen, and solar energy, resulting in minimal waste. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO) stands out among various oxide semiconductors for selective HO production under visible light via direct two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and two-electron water oxidation reaction (WOR) pathways.

S-Modified Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Double Defect Sites For Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) is an attractive photocatalyst for solar energy conversion due to its unique electronic structure and chemical stability. However, gCN generally suffers from insufficient light absorption and rapid compounding of photogenerated charges. The introduction of defects and atomic doping can optimize the electronic structure of gCN and improve the light absorption and carrier separation efficiency.

Incorporating Zinc Metal Sites in Aluminum-Coordinated Porphyrin Metal-Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Photocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia.

Rationally designing photocatalysts is crucial for the solar-driven nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) due to the stable N≡N triple bond. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered promising candidates but suffer from insufficient active sites and inferior charge transport. Herein, it is demonstrated that incorporating 3d metal ions, such as zinc (Zn) or iron (Fe) ions, into Al-coordinated porphyrin MOFs (Al-PMOFs) enables the enhanced ammonia yield of 88.

Transforming Red Phosphorus Photocatalysis: Dual Roles of Pre-Anchored Ru Single Atoms in Defect and Interface Engineering.

Crystalline red phosphorus (CRP), known for its promising photocatalytic properties, faces challenges in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) due to undesired inherent charge deep trapping and recombination effects induced by defects. This study overcomes these limitations through an innovative strategy in integrating ruthenium single atoms (Ru) within CRP to simultaneously repair the intrinsic undesired vacancy defects and serve as the uniformly distributed anchoring sites for a controllable growth into ruthenium nanoparticles (Ru). Hence, a highly functionalized CRP with Ru and Ru (Ru/CRP) with concerted effects in regulating electronic structures and promoting interfacial charge transfer has been achieved.

Photo-to-Thermal Conversion Harnessing Low-Energy Photons Renders Efficient Solar CO Reduction.

Efficient photocatalytic solar CO reduction presents a challenge because visible-to-near-infrared (NIR) low-energy photons account for over 50% of solar energy. Consequently, they are unable to instigate the high-energy reaction necessary for dissociating C═O bonds in CO. In this study, we present a novel methodology leveraging the often-underutilized photo-to-thermal (PTT) conversion.

CsBiBr nanoparticles decorated CN nanotubes composite photocatalyst for highly selective oxidation of benzylic alcohol.

Solar-light driven oxidation of benzylic alcohols over photocatalysts endows significant prospects in value-added organics evolution owing to its facile, inexpensive and sustainable process. However, the unsatisfactory performance of actual photocatalysts due to the inefficient charge separation, low photoredox potential and sluggish surface reaction impedes the practical application of this process. Herein, we developed an innovative Z-Scheme CsBiBr nanoparticles@porous CN tubes (CBB-NP@P-tube-CN) heterojunction photocatalyst for highly selective benzyl alcohol oxidation.

Defects of Metal Halide Perovskites in Photocatalytic Energy Conversion: Friend or Foe?

Photocatalytic solar-to-fuel conversion over metal halide perovskites (MHPs) has recently attracted much attention, while the roles of defects in MHPs are still under debate. Specifically, the mainstream viewpoint is that the defects are detrimental to photocatalytic performance, while some recent studies show that certain types of defects contribute to photoactivity enhancement. However, a systematic summary of why it is contradictory and how the defects in MHPs affect photocatalytic performance is still lacking.

Vacancy-Rich CoS@LDH@Co-NC Catalytic Membrane for Antibiotic Degradation with Mechanistic Insights.

Improving the wettability of carbon-based catalysts and overcoming the rate-limiting step of the M/M cycle are effective strategies for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS). In this study, the coupling of Co-NC, layered double hydroxide (LDH), and CoS heterostructure (CoS@LDH@Co-NC) was constructed to completely degrade ofloxacin (OFX) within 10 min via PMS activation. The reaction rate of 1.

Thin Zinc Oxide Layer Passivating Bismuth Vanadate for Selective Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation to Hydrogen Peroxide.

Selective photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation to hydrogen peroxide is an underexplored option as opposed to the mainstream oxygen reduction reaction. Albeit interesting, selective H O production via oxidative pathway is plagued by the noncontrollable two-electron transfer reaction and the overoxidation of the thus-formed H O to O . Here, ZnO passivator-coated BiVO photoanode is reported for selective PEC H O production.

Atomically Dispersed Cu Catalysts on Sulfide-Derived Defective Ag Nanowires for Electrochemical CO Reduction.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have shown potential for achieving an efficient electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CO2RR) despite challenges in their synthesis. Here, AgS/Ag nanowires provide initial anchoring sites for Cu SACs (Cu/AgS/Ag), then Cu/Ag(S) was synthesized by an electrochemical treatment resulting in complete sulfur removal, i.e.

Low-bias photoelectrochemical water splitting via mediating trap states and small polaron hopping.

Metal oxides are promising for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting due to their robustness and low cost. However, poor charge carrier transport impedes their activity, particularly at low-bias voltage. Here we demonstrate the unusual effectiveness of phosphorus doping into bismuth vanadate (BiVO) photoanode for efficient low-bias PEC water splitting.

Modulating the Active Sites of Oxygen-Deficient TiO by Copper Loading for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia.

The electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) provides a sustainable route for NH synthesis. However, the process is plagued by the strong NN triple bond and high reaction barrier. Modification of catalyst surface to increase N adsorption and activation is crucial.

Green synthesis of graphite-based photo-Fenton nanocatalyst from waste tar via a self-reduction and solvent-free strategy.

Thermochemical conversion of biomass yields large quantities of tar as a by-product, which is a potential precursor for the synthesis of renewable carbon-based functional materials. In this study, high-performance photo-Fenton catalyst of graphite‑carbon-supported iron nanoparticles was synthesized using a self-reduction and solvent-free approach. The results showed that the tar-derived catalyst had unique properties including a defect-rich graphitic structure, high surface area, and an abundant porous structure resulting from the inherent properties of biomass tar.

A CuNi Alloy-Carbon Layer Core-Shell Catalyst for Highly Efficient Conversion of Aqueous Formaldehyde to Hydrogen at Room Temperature.

A copper (Cu) material is catalytically active for formaldehyde (HCHO) dehydrogenation to produce H, but the unsatisfactory efficiency and easy corrosion hinder its practical application. Alloying with other metals and coating a carbon layer outside are recognized as effective strategies to improve the catalytic activity and the long-term durability of nonprecious metal catalysts. Here, highly dispersed CuNi alloy-carbon layer core-shell nanoparticles (CuNi@C) have been developed as a robust catalyst for efficient H generation from HCHO aqueous solution at room temperature.

Manipulating the Fate of Charge Carriers with Tungsten Concentration: Enhancing Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation of Bi WO.

Bismuth tungstate (Bi WO ) thin film photoanode has exhibited an excellent photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance when the tungsten (W) concentration is increased during the fabrication. Plate-like Bi WO thin film with distinct particle sizes and surface area of different exposed facets are successfully prepared via hydrothermal reaction. The smaller particle size in conjunction with higher exposure extent of electron-dominated {010} crystal facet leads to a shorter electron transport pathway to the bulk surface, assuring a lower charge transfer resistance and thus minimal energy loss.

Oxygen Nucleation of MoS Nanosheet Thin Film Supercapacitor Electrodes for Enhanced Electrochemical Energy Storage.

A direct thin film approach to fabricate large-surface MoS nanosheet thin film supercapacitors using the solution-based diffusion of thiourea into an anodized MoO thin film was investigated. A dense MoS nanosheet thin film electrode (D-MoS ) was obtained when the anodized MoO thin film was processed in a low thiourea solution concentration, whereas a highly porous MoS nanosheet thin film electrode (P-MoS ) was formed at a higher thiourea solution concentration. The charge storage performances of the D-MoS and P-MoS thin films displayed an unusual increase in capacitance on extended cycling, leading to a capacitance as high as around 5-8 mF cm .

Coupled porosity and heterojunction engineering: MOF-derived porous CoO embedded on TiO nanotube arrays for water remediation.

Strive to develop the interaction and efficient co-catalysts is one of the vital projects in realizing hybrid photocatalytic systems for water remediation. In this work, p-type porous CoO was embedded onto n-type vertical TiO nanotube via an in-situ thermal etching method. ZIF-67 was employed as the structural template for CoO, which then augmented the light harvesting ability of the resultant photocatalyst.

Metal-Organic Framework Decorated Cuprous Oxide Nanowires for Long-lived Charges Applied in Selective Photocatalytic CO Reduction to CH.

Improving the stability of cuprous oxide (Cu O) is imperative to its practical applications in artificial photosynthesis. In this work, Cu O nanowires are encapsulated by metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of Cu (BTC) (BTC=1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylate) using a surfactant-free method. Such MOFs not only suppress the water vapor-induced corrosion of Cu O but also facilitate charge separation and CO uptake, thus resulting in a nanocomposite representing 1.

Visible-light-driven photoelectrocatalytic activation of chloride by nanoporous MoS@BiVO photoanode for enhanced degradation of bisphenol A.

The massive emission of bisphenol A (BPA) has imposed adverse effects on both ecosystems and human health. Herein, nanoporous MoS@BiVO photoanodes were fabricated on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates for photoelectrocatalytic degradation of BPA. The photocurrent density of the optimized photoanode (MoS-3@BiVO) was 5.

Superior photoelectrocatalytic performance of ternary structural BiVO/GQD/g-CN heterojunction.

Herein, we performed an encyclopedic analysis on the photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen production of BiVO/g-CN decorated with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) or graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The differences between RGO and GQDs as an electron mediator was revealed for the first time in the perspective of theoretical DFT analysis and experimental validation. It was found that the incorporation of GQDs as an electron mediator promotes better photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen performance in comparison to the RGO.

Recent advances in photodegradation of antibiotic residues in water.

Antibiotics are widely present in the environment due to their extensive and long-term use in modern medicine. The presence and dispersal of these compounds in the environment lead to the dissemination of antibiotic residues, thereby seriously threatening human and ecosystem health. Thus, the effective management of antibiotic residues in water and the practical applications of the management methods are long-term matters of contention among academics.

Visible-light photocatalysis and charge carrier dynamics of elemental crystalline red phosphorus.

Elemental red phosphorus (red P) is a new class of photocatalysts with a desirable bandgap of ∼1.7 eV and has a strong visible-light response. Here, we show that the efficiency of red P is limited by severe electron trapping at deep traps that are intrinsic to the different crystal facets of the red P.