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Applied Sciences
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Advances in Semiconductor Photocatalysis
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Advances in Semiconductor Photocatalysis

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Optics and Lasers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2019) | Viewed by 32959

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Zhongyu Cai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Interests: photonic crystals; chemical and biosensors; optical sensors; smart materials; wearable devices
Prof. Dr. Jiahong Pan

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Interests: environmental photocatalysis; membrane filtration; water treatments; self-assembly of nanostructure; electrochemical energy storage

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Semiconductor materials have long been used as photocatalysts for various applications. In recent years, many methods have been developed in order to improve the photocatalytic activity of traditional semiconductor materials such as TiO2. Besides the “old materials”, novel semiconductor materials have been explored for photocatalysis applications, and significant advances have been made. New concepts, like “plasmonic photocatalysis” and “photonic photocatalysis” have been devised. The new materials and new methods can significantly enhance photocatalysis efficiency and overcome many drawbacks associated with the traditional semiconductor photocatalysts. 

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for scientists and engineers to report the most exciting advances made in this field. We would like to invite colleagues to contribute to this Special Issue. We expect to see amazing studies on semiconductor photocatalysts synthesis, novel methods for photocatalysis enhancement, and novel applications of semiconductor photocatalysts in any form of photocatalytic processes.

Dr. Zhongyu Cai
Prof. Dr. Jia Hong Pan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Semiconductor photocatalysis
  • Plasmonic photocatalysis
  • Photonic photocatalysis
  • Plasmonic materials
  • Photonic materials
  • Pollutant treatment
  • Water splitting
  • Volatile organic compounds remediation
  • Carbon dioxide transformation
  • Solar energy conversion
  • Photovoltaics

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 4498 KiB  
Article
Graphene Quantum Dots Doped PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT) Fiber Film with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance
by Fubao Zhang, Chen Yang, Xiao-Xiong Wang, Ru Li, Zhong Wan, Xianming Wang, Yong Wan, Yun-Ze Long and Zhongyu Cai
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(2), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10020596 - 14 Jan 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2788
Abstract
We report the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (tetrabutyl titanate)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone ((tetrabutyl titanate))-graphene quantum dots [PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)-GQDs] film photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic performance. The polyvinylidene fluoride (tetrabutyl titanate)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone ((tetrabutyl titanate)) [PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)] film was first prepared with a dual-electrospinning method and then followed by attaching [...] Read more.
We report the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (tetrabutyl titanate)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone ((tetrabutyl titanate))-graphene quantum dots [PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)-GQDs] film photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic performance. The polyvinylidene fluoride (tetrabutyl titanate)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone ((tetrabutyl titanate)) [PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)] film was first prepared with a dual-electrospinning method and then followed by attaching graphene quantum dots (GQDs) to the surface of the composite film through a hydrothermal method. Later, part of the PVP in the composite film was dissolved by a hydrothermal method. As a result, a PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)-GQDs film photocatalyst with a larger specific surface area was achieved. The photocatalytic degradation behavior of the PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)-GQDs film photocatalyst was examined by using Rhodamine B as the target contaminant. The PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)-GQDs photocatalyst showed a higher photocatalytic efficiency than PVDF(TBT)-H2O, PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)-H2O, and PVDF(TBT)-GQDs, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency can be attributed to the broader optical response range of the PVDF(TBT)/PVP(TBT)-GQDs photocatalyst, which makes it useful as an effective photocatalyst under white light irradiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semiconductor Photocatalysis)
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Review

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24 pages, 4713 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress in Biochar-Based Photocatalysts for Wastewater Treatment: Synthesis, Mechanisms, and Applications
by Jiali Cui, Feng Zhang, Hongyan Li, Jianguo Cui, Yatao Ren and Xiaochen Yu
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(3), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10031019 - 04 Feb 2020
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4850
Abstract
Biochar (BC) is a carbon-rich material produced from pyrolysis of biomass. In addition to its low toxicity, environmental compatibility, and low cost, BC has the desired advantages of well-developed mesoporous structure and abundant surface functional groups. In recent years, BC-based photocatalysts (BCPs) have [...] Read more.
Biochar (BC) is a carbon-rich material produced from pyrolysis of biomass. In addition to its low toxicity, environmental compatibility, and low cost, BC has the desired advantages of well-developed mesoporous structure and abundant surface functional groups. In recent years, BC-based photocatalysts (BCPs) have played a significant role in many environmental fields. In this paper, we highlight the current progress and several exciting results of BCPs by focusing on their synthesis, characterization, mechanisms, and applications in wastewater treatment. Details on various preparation methods include sol–gel, hydrothermal/solvothermal, ultrasound, calcination, and in situ methods are summarized and discussed. The underlying mechanisms and the applications of BCPs for different semiconductors are reviewed. Furthermore, some future trends and potentials are outlined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semiconductor Photocatalysis)
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43 pages, 5323 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances and Applications of Semiconductor Photocatalytic Technology
by Fubao Zhang, Xianming Wang, Haonan Liu, Chunli Liu, Yong Wan, Yunze Long and Zhongyu Cai
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(12), 2489; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9122489 - 18 Jun 2019
Cited by 299 | Viewed by 21215
Abstract
Along with the development of industry and the improvement of people’s living standards, peoples’ demand on resources has greatly increased, causing energy crises and environmental pollution. In recent years, photocatalytic technology has shown great potential as a low-cost, environmentally-friendly, and sustainable technology, and [...] Read more.
Along with the development of industry and the improvement of people’s living standards, peoples’ demand on resources has greatly increased, causing energy crises and environmental pollution. In recent years, photocatalytic technology has shown great potential as a low-cost, environmentally-friendly, and sustainable technology, and it has become a hot research topic. However, current photocatalytic technology cannot meet industrial requirements. The biggest challenge in the industrialization of photocatalyst technology is the development of an ideal photocatalyst, which should possess four features, including a high photocatalytic efficiency, a large specific surface area, a full utilization of sunlight, and recyclability. In this review, starting from the photocatalytic reaction mechanism and the preparation of the photocatalyst, we review the classification of current photocatalysts and the methods for improving photocatalytic performance; we also further discuss the potential industrial usage of photocatalytic technology. This review also aims to provide basic and comprehensive information on the industrialization of photocatalysis technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semiconductor Photocatalysis)
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18 pages, 7239 KiB  
Review
Photocatalytic Lithography
by Guido Panzarasa and Guido Soliveri
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(7), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9071266 - 27 Mar 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3602
Abstract
Patterning, the controlled formation of ordered surface features with different physico-chemical properties, is a cornerstone of contemporary micro- and nanofabrication. In this context, lithographic approaches owe their wide success to their versatility and their relative ease of implementation and scalability. Conventional photolithographic methods [...] Read more.
Patterning, the controlled formation of ordered surface features with different physico-chemical properties, is a cornerstone of contemporary micro- and nanofabrication. In this context, lithographic approaches owe their wide success to their versatility and their relative ease of implementation and scalability. Conventional photolithographic methods require several steps and the use of polymeric photoresists for the development of the desired pattern, all factors which can be deleterious, especially for sensitive substrates. Efficient patterning of surfaces, with resolution down to the nanometer scale, can be achieved by means of photocatalytic lithography. This approach is based on the use of photocatalysts to achieve the selective chemical modification or degradation of self-assembled monolayers, polymers, and metals. A wide range of photoactive compounds, from semiconducting oxides to porphyrins, have been demonstrated to be suitable photocatalysts. The goal of the present review is to provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art photocatalytic lithography, ranging from approaches based on semiconducting oxides to singlet oxygen-based lithography. Special attention will be dedicated to the results obtained for the patterning of polymer brushes, the sculpturing of metal nanoparticle arrays, and the patterning of graphene-based structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semiconductor Photocatalysis)
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