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Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water, 2nd...
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Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water, 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 4463

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhexin Zhu

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Guest Editor
National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Textile Fiber Materials and Processing Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Interests: Fenton-like photocatalysis; detection of organic pollutants and degradation products; integration of advanced oxidation technologies and biological processes for industrial wastewater treatment; advanced treatment of water and wastewater
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiufang Chen

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Guest Editor
National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Textile Fiber Materials and Processing Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Interests: photocatalysis; photocatalytic environmental purification; photocatalytic organic synthesis; development of photocatalytic nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yinsong Si

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Guest Editor
National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Textile Fiber Materials and Processing Technology, College of Material Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Interests: synthesis of nanoporous photocatalysts; photocatalytic hydrogen production; microsphere-nanofiber composites; biomimetic catalytic structure; organic pollutants and wastewater treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This is the second edition of the successful Special Issue titled “Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water”.

Organic pollutants are widely dispersed in industrial wastewater and have caused widespread environmental concerns. Photocatalysis has been a hotspot of research as an environmentally benign, low-cost and highly efficient approach to the decomposition of organic pollutants.

This Special Issue of Catalysts will cover the recent advancements in photocatalyst development, water environmental remediation applications, industrial wastewater treatment, reaction mechanisms, and modeling processes for water decontamination. The Guest Editors encourage submissions in the following areas:

  • The development of photocatalytic materials;
  • Photocatalytic-based process degradation of emerging contaminants in wastewater;
  • Wastewater recycling and repurposing via photocatalysts;
  • Disinfection and decontamination via advanced oxidation processes (photocatalysis-, ozone, UV, H2O2 and PMS-based processes);
  • Photocatalytic degradation processes and intermediates of emerging contaminants in wastewater.

If you would like to submit papers for publication in this Special Issue or have any questions, please contact the in-house Editor, Mr. Ives Liu (ives.liu@mdpi.com).

Dr. Zhexin Zhu
Dr. Xiufang Chen
Dr. Yinsong Si
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • photocatalytic nanomaterial
  • advanced oxidation technology
  • environmental photocatalysis
  • degradation mechanism
  • wastewater treatment

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3127 KB  
Article
Strategies to Enhance Catalytic Efficiency of ZnO Thin Film Under Solar Light Irradiation
by Teodora Matei, Gabriel Andrisan, Ioana-Laura Velicu, Georgiana Bulai, Mihai Alexandru Ciolan, Felicia Gheorghiu, Marius Dobromir, Roxana Strungaru-Jijie and Vasile Tiron
Catalysts 2026, 16(3), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16030211 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 690
Abstract
Given the increasing environmental degradation, this study investigates advanced zinc oxide (ZnO)-based materials for the mineralization of toxic compounds through the combined action of photo- and piezocatalysis. Two complementary strategies were employed to enhance catalytic efficiency. First, ZnO1−xNx thin films [...] Read more.
Given the increasing environmental degradation, this study investigates advanced zinc oxide (ZnO)-based materials for the mineralization of toxic compounds through the combined action of photo- and piezocatalysis. Two complementary strategies were employed to enhance catalytic efficiency. First, ZnO1−xNx thin films were deposited by reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (R-HiPIMS) to reduce the band gap energy. Second, flower-like ZnO nanostructures were synthesized using the pulsed thermionic vacuum arc (p-TVA) technique to increase the specific surface area. Both systems were further modified by decoration with Ag2O nanoparticles to improve charge separation. The R-HiPIMS technique offers significant advantages in terms of precise control over processing parameters, enabling accurate tuning of film properties, including microstructure, chemical composition, and electronic structure. However, films produced via R-HiPIMS generally exhibit lower photo-piezocatalytic activity compared to nanostructured counterparts, primarily due to their comparatively reduced effective surface area and limited charge separation efficiency. In contrast, the p-TVA technique enables the synthesis of nanostructured thin films with substantially enhanced photo-piezocatalytic performance. This improvement is attributed to the increased effective surface area and the promotion of more efficient electron–hole pair separation. The materials were comprehensively characterized in terms of optical properties (UV–Vis spectroscopy), chemical composition and bonding (XPS), crystalline structure (XRD), surface morphology (FE-SEM), and photo-piezocatalytic performance. Catalytic activity was evaluated via the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation and mechanical vibrations. Nitrogen incorporation in ZnO1−xNx thin films led to an increase in photocatalytic efficiency from 20% to 28.7%, while the simultaneous application of light and mechanical stimulation increased efficiency to approximately 50%. Under identical irradiation conditions, Ag2O-decorated ZnO and Ag2O-decorated ZnO1−xNx exhibited photo-degradation reaction rate constants up to 65% higher than bare counterparts, attributed to reduced electron–hole recombination. ZnO nanostructures achieved degradation efficiencies of 59%, rising to 88.3% with Ag2O decoration under solar illumination for 120 min. When combined with mechanical vibrations, after 60 min, the degradation efficiencies reached 93% for ZnO and 98% for Ag2O/ZnO systems. A photodegradation mechanism of Ag2O NPs-decorated ZnO heterostructures was proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 2666 KB  
Article
ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized via a Supercritical-CO2-Assisted Method as Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Water Pollutants
by Shuangxue Li and Paolo P. Pescarmona
Catalysts 2026, 16(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16010064 - 5 Jan 2026
Viewed by 711
Abstract
Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a widely studied photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants in water, yet its conventional sol–gel synthesis often suffers from low yield and produces materials with low specific surface area. In this study, we tackled these limitations by synthesizing [...] Read more.
Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a widely studied photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants in water, yet its conventional sol–gel synthesis often suffers from low yield and produces materials with low specific surface area. In this study, we tackled these limitations by synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles using a supercritical-CO2-assisted sol–gel method (ZnO-scCO2). The influence of the calcination temperature, precursor concentration, and solvent type on the synthesis of ZnO was systematically investigated, and the materials were characterized with a combination of techniques (XRD, SEM, N2 physisorption, UV-Vis-DRS spectroscopy). The photocatalytic performance of the ZnO-scCO2 materials was evaluated in the degradation of two probe pollutants (phenol and rhodamine B, 200 ppm), under UV and visible radiation. The scCO2-assisted method in ethanol as the solvent allowed achieving at least a four-fold higher ZnO yield and two-fold higher surface area compared to the materials prepared with a conventional sol–gel route without scCO2. These ZnO-scCO2 nanoparticles consistently showed enhanced photocatalytic activity in the removal of phenol and rhodamine B compared to their counterparts synthesized without scCO2 and compared to commercial ZnO. Among the screened synthetic parameters, the solvent in which ZnO was prepared proved to be the one with the strongest influence in determining the ZnO yield and its photocatalytic activity. The optimum results were obtained using 0.50 M zinc acetate as the precursor in 1-butanol as the solvent, and calcination at 300 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 3492 KB  
Article
Construction of a Visible Light-Driven LaFeO3/Bi4Ti3O12 Heterojunction Photocatalyst Towards Removal of Tetracycline in Aquatic Environment
by Weifang Chen, Na Zhao, Shuo Zhang and Qiaoqiao Ma
Catalysts 2025, 15(12), 1147; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15121147 - 5 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 713
Abstract
A LaFeO3/Bi4Ti3O12 heterojunction photocatalyst composite was constructed for the removal of tetracycline (TC). The structure, morphology, and elemental composition of the composite were systematically characterized using tools such as XRD, SEM, and XPS. The results from [...] Read more.
A LaFeO3/Bi4Ti3O12 heterojunction photocatalyst composite was constructed for the removal of tetracycline (TC). The structure, morphology, and elemental composition of the composite were systematically characterized using tools such as XRD, SEM, and XPS. The results from characterization jointly verified the successful construction of a LaFeO3/Bi4Ti3O12 heterojunction. UV–vis DRS analysis further revealed a narrowing of the optical bandgap from 3.29 eV to 2.24 eV, which enhanced visible-light absorption. Characterization via XPS identified the presence of Fe2+/Fe3+ mixed valence states, while bismuth predominantly existed in the stable Bi3+ state. Under simulated sunlight (300 W xenon lamp) irradiation, the photocatalytic performance of LaFeO3/Bi4Ti3O12 was systematically evaluated. The results demonstrated that the LaFeO3/Bi4Ti3O12 composite achieved a removal efficiency of 95% for TC within 120 min, with a reaction rate constant of 0.023 min−1. The construction of heterojunction greatly increased not only the removal efficiency but also the reaction rate. For instance, the first-order reaction rate constants of LaFeO3/Bi4Ti3O12 were 3.8 and 4.7 times higher than those of pure LaFeO3 and Bi4Ti3O12. TC removal by the composite was affected by dosage, initial TC concentration, and pH of the water. The composite exhibited the best performance at a dosage of 1.6 g/L with a pH around 7–8 and an initial TC concentration less than 20 mg/L. Anions such as Cl− and NO3− had minimal impact on its photocatalytic activity, whereas H2PO4−, humic acid, showed inhibitory effects. Free radical trapping experiments further confirmed that holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were the primary active species in the process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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32 pages, 15323 KB  
Review
Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based Photocatalysts for Uranium Reduction and Extraction: From Fundamentals to Applications
by Zhenling Zhao, Xuehong Yuan, Shuzhao Pei and Sai Zhang
Catalysts 2026, 16(3), 249; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16030249 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 729
Abstract
Nuclear energy has become a promising substitute for traditional fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas) by reason of its ultra-high energy density, firm power generation, and near-zero carbon emissions. However, the shortage of uranium resources is threatening the sustainable development of [...] Read more.
Nuclear energy has become a promising substitute for traditional fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas) by reason of its ultra-high energy density, firm power generation, and near-zero carbon emissions. However, the shortage of uranium resources is threatening the sustainable development of nuclear power, and meanwhile the nuclear fuel front-end cycle inevitably causes radioactive uranium-bearing wastewater discharge, resulting in severe environmental pollution. Nowadays, the extraction and enrichment of uranium in seawater and uranium-containing wastewater offer a prospective avenue to secure the long-term viability of nuclear power with environmental conservation. Among numerous strategies, photocatalytic extraction of soluble hexavalent uranyl (U(VI)) over graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a conjugated polymer semiconductor, is increasingly attracting widespread attention due to its high solar energy utilization, environmental friendliness, high selectivity, good stability, and low cost. A comprehensive overview that pinpoints research directions for novice researchers is urgently required. Herein, the development progress of g-C3N4-mediated photocatalytic U(VI) extraction is briefly introduced. Subsequently, the possible mechanisms are discussed with the assistance of advanced characterization techniques, and the influential factors for catalytic efficiency are also discussed. Moreover, multiple applications of g-C3N4-based catalysts on photocatalytic U(VI) reduction and extraction are elaborated, especially for modularization approaches on a large scale. At length, the future challenges and prospects in photocatalytic uranium extraction from water bodies are proposed. This review aims to offer fundamental insights into designing and exploring novel g-C3N4-based photocatalysts for soluble U(VI) enrichment in water bodies, especially opening up new avenues for the future development of sustainable uranium extraction technologies in practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water, 2nd Edition)
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27 pages, 4883 KB  
Review
Preparation of Biochar-Based Photocatalytic Materials and Their Applications in Water Treatment: A Review
by Qiao Xu, Xiang Li and Yinsong Si
Catalysts 2026, 16(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16010005 - 22 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1119
Abstract
The escalating issue of water pollution has intensified the demand for efficient remediation technologies. Biochar adsorption and photocatalytic degradation have emerged as promising approaches for water treatment, with each offering distinct advantages. Integrating these two strategies into biochar-based photocatalytic composites presents a novel [...] Read more.
The escalating issue of water pollution has intensified the demand for efficient remediation technologies. Biochar adsorption and photocatalytic degradation have emerged as promising approaches for water treatment, with each offering distinct advantages. Integrating these two strategies into biochar-based photocatalytic composites presents a novel and effective pathway for advanced water purification. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the preparation of biochar, modification of photocatalysts, and synthesis techniques for their integration. Furthermore, we critically examine the current application landscape and key challenges facing biochar-based photocatalytic materials in water treatment. Promising future research directions are outlined along with identifiable bottlenecks that must be addressed to advance the field. This work aims to offer insightful perspectives and practical guidance for the rational design and development of high-performance biochar-based photocatalytic systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water, 2nd Edition)
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