Commemorative Special Issue for Prof. Dr. David Ollis

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Photocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 1975

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Institute for Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany
2. Laboratory of Photoactive Nanocomposite Materials, Saint-Petersburg State University, Ulyanovskaya Str. 1, Peterhof, 198504 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Interests: photocatalysis; self-cleaning; super hydrophilic; antibacterial surfaces; metal and semiconductor particles; nanocrystalline transparent coatings; functional test according to DIN; CEN and ISO
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering and Management of Water Resources, Technion, Haifa 3200003, Israel
Interests: selective photocatalysis; transient IR spectroscopy of photoactive materials; water treatment by combined AOP and biotreatment approaches; origin of life
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Corner of Athinon and Anexartisias 57, P.O. Box 50329, 3603 Lemesos, Cyprus
Interests: catalysis; cyanotoxins and cyanobacteria; advanced oxidation technologies; water reclamation processes; UV; solar light nanotechnology; oxidants
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We wish to announce a Special Issue of Catalysts dedicated to commemorating the remarkable contributions and enduring legacy of Professor David F. Ollis. A distinguished figure in the field of chemical engineering and a cherished colleague and mentor, Professor Ollis left an indelible mark on academia through his intellect, innovation, and unwavering commitment to education and research. His seminal textbook, "Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals," co-authored with James Bailey, transformed the landscape of chemical engineering education, laying the foundation for the integration of biology into the discipline. Also, the publications of Professor Ollis in the first half of 1980s in the Journal of Catalysis, as well as in Environmental Science and Technologies, triggered widespread international interest in the study of photocatalysis.

In honor of Professor Ollis’ extraordinary contributions, this Special Issue invites researchers and scholars to submit original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that reflect the breadth and depth of his scholarly interests and impact. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advances in biochemical engineering and catalysis;
  • Photocatalytic purification of air and water: innovations and applications;
  • Interdisciplinary research at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and engineering related to catalysis or enzymes;
  • Sustainable catalytic technologies and solutions for environmental challenges;
  • Semiconductor photochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, and photocatalysis for environmental catalysis applications: water treatment, air treatment, self-cleaning, disinfection, anti-corrosion effects, etc.;
  • Development of materials and nanomaterials: photocatalyst preparation, doping and co-doping, spectral range broadening for solar application, photocatalyst-sorbent combination, novel supports for photocatalysts, etc.;
  • Molecular and nanostructured solar cells;
  • Dye-sensitized solar cells and fuel cells;
  • Perovskite solar cells;
  • Solar fuel production: e.g. H2, CH4, etc.;
  • Dynamics of photo-induced energy and/or electron transfer in catalysis;
  • Fundamental investigations into semiconductors and nanostructures in catalysis: mechanistic studies, modeling, microchemical systems, etc.

We welcome contributions from colleagues, collaborators, and admirers of Ollis’ work. We also welcome contributions from researchers attending the 28th International Conference on Advanced Oxidation Technologies for the Treatment of Water, Air, and Soil.

In commemorating the life and contributions of Professor David F. Ollis, this Special Issue serves as a tribute to his enduring legacy and profound influence on the field of chemical engineering and beyond.

Prof. Dr. Detlef W. Bahnemann
Prof. Dr. Yaron Paz
Dr. Maria G. Antoniou
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. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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

  • photocatalysis
  • photocatalysts
  • semiconductors
  • photocatalysis for environmental catalysis applications
  • catalytic purification of air and water
  • solar cells
  • perovskite
  • mechanistic studies and modeling

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1066 KiB  
Article
Photoelectrochemical Behavior of CuWO4 in Tandem System with CuBi2O4
by Anna A. Murashkina, Aida V. Rudakova, Tair V. Bakiev, Alexei V. Emeline and Detlef W. Bahnemann
Catalysts 2025, 15(2), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15020177 - 13 Feb 2025
Viewed by 589
Abstract
In this study, we explore the charge transfer mechanism between CuWO4 and CuBi2O4 in a tandem photoelectrochemical cell. Physical–chemical characterization of the individual between CuWO4 and CuBi2O4 electrodes electrode by XRD, XPS, and SEM methods [...] Read more.
In this study, we explore the charge transfer mechanism between CuWO4 and CuBi2O4 in a tandem photoelectrochemical cell. Physical–chemical characterization of the individual between CuWO4 and CuBi2O4 electrodes electrode by XRD, XPS, and SEM methods confirm the successful formation of the target systems. Based on XPS and DRS data, the electronic band edge positions were estimated (valence bands: −6.1 eV and −5.6 eV; conduction bands: −3.7 eV and −3.8 eV for CuWO4 and CuBi2O4, respectively), indicating that both type II and Z-scheme charge transfer mechanisms are possible in the system. The results of photoelectrochemical studies infers that, in a CuWO4||CuBi2O4 tandem photoelectrochemical cell, the major mechanism of the charge transfer between CuWO4 and CuBi2O4 is a realization of Z-scheme through an external circuit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Special Issue for Prof. Dr. David Ollis)
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21 pages, 5867 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Photocatalytic Degradation of Penconazole on TiO2 in Aqueous Suspensions: Mechanistic and Ecotoxicity Studies in Aerated and Degassed Systems
by Ákos Székely, Erzsébet Szabó-Bárdos, Orsolya Fónagy and Ottó Horváth
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 898; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120898 - 7 Dec 2024
Viewed by 768
Abstract
Penconazole (C12H15Cl2N3) is widely used to prevent fungal infection of fruits. Since this toxic fungicide is recalcitrant to biological degradation, it has harmful impacts on aquatic ecosystems. TiO2-based heterogeneous photocatalysis proved to be [...] Read more.
Penconazole (C12H15Cl2N3) is widely used to prevent fungal infection of fruits. Since this toxic fungicide is recalcitrant to biological degradation, it has harmful impacts on aquatic ecosystems. TiO2-based heterogeneous photocatalysis proved to be an efficient method for its mineralization. To monitor the processes occurring under the influence of illumination, the light absorbance, the pH, and the TOC of the samples were measured. The concentration of the model compound and the degradation products were determined by HPLC and IC. Penconazole did not decompose under UV light (λmax = 371 nm) without a catalyst. In the presence of TiO2, mineralization took place. The initial degradation rate in air (7.7 × 10−4 mM s−1) was 5 times higher than under argon. The formation rate of hydrochloric acid (1.04 × 10−3 mM s−1) in the former case significantly contributed to the acidification of the liquid phase. NH4+ also formed, at the rate of 5.9 × 10−4 mM s−1, and very slightly transformed to NO3. Due to the intermediates identified by HPLC-MS, hydroxylation, H abstraction, and Cl elimination are involved in the degradation mechanism, in which photogenerated HO radicals, conduction-band electrons, and (under air) superoxide radical anions (O2●−) play considerable roles. The intermediates proved to be much less toxic than penconazole. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Special Issue for Prof. Dr. David Ollis)
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