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Catalysts
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Recent Advances in Photocatalysis for Environmental Applications
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Recent Advances in Photocatalysis for Environmental Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2025) | Viewed by 3074

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vesna Lojpur

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Atomic Physics, “Vinča” Institute of Nuclear Sciences—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: luminescence; nanostructure synthesis; up-conversion; nanomaterials; photocatalysis; material characterization; optoelectronics
Dr. Ivana Dinić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Institute of Technical Science, Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, 110000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: up-converter particles; hydro/solvothermal synthesis; nanomaterials; photoluminescence; photocatalysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Air and water pollution are major issues today as a result of industrial and technological advancements. Photocatalysis is a promising technology for addressing these difficulties due to its sustainability, affordability, and environmental friendliness. Extensive studies must be conducted to identify an effective photocatalysis for the destruction of pollutants.

The current Special Issue intends to bring together a group of articles related to one of the most important fields in science, catalysis. The Special Issue will publish high-quality research papers related to photocatalysis from various scientific disciplines, including Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Nanotechnology, and Green Chemistry. The discovery of new, promising methods for synthesizing active, stable, and selective nanomaterial-based catalysts will be prioritized as well as the photocatalytic elimination of environmental pollutants in the liquid or gas phase.

If you would like to submit papers to this Special Issue or have any questions, please contact the in-house editor, Ms. Rita Lin (rita.lin@mdpi.com).

Dr. Vesna Lojpur
Guest Editor

Dr. Ivana Dinić
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • nanoparticles
  • synthesis of photocatalysts
  • catalysts for photodegradation
  • self-cleaning materials
  • photocatalytic hydrogen generation and CO2 reduction
  • kinetics and mechanistic aspects of photocatalytic reactions
  • homogeneous photocatalysis

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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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21 pages, 6025 KiB  
Article
Solar-Activated Titanium-Based Cu4O3/ZrO2/TiO2 Ternary Nano-Heterojunction for Rapid Photocatalytic Degradation of the Textile Dye Everzol Yellow 3RS
by Saira, Wesam Abd El-Fattah, Muhammad Shahid, Sufyan Ashraf, Zeshan Ali Sandhu, Ahlem Guesmi, Naoufel Ben Hamadi, Mohd Farhan and Muhammad Asam Raza
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080751 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 388
Abstract
Persistent reactive azo dyes released from textile finishing are a serious threat to water systems, but effective methods using sunlight to break them down are still limited. Everzol Yellow 3RS (EY-3RS) is particularly recalcitrant: past studies have relied almost exclusively on physical adsorption [...] Read more.
Persistent reactive azo dyes released from textile finishing are a serious threat to water systems, but effective methods using sunlight to break them down are still limited. Everzol Yellow 3RS (EY-3RS) is particularly recalcitrant: past studies have relied almost exclusively on physical adsorption onto natural or modified clays and zeolites, and no photocatalytic pathway employing engineered nanomaterials has been documented to date. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and performance of a visible-active ternary nanocomposite, Cu4O3/ZrO2/TiO2, prepared hydrothermally alongside its binary (Cu4O3/ZrO2) and rutile TiO2 counterparts. XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, UV-Vis, and PL analyses confirm a heterostructured architecture with a narrowed optical bandgap of 2.91 eV, efficient charge separation, and a mesoporous nanosphere-in-matrix morphology. Photocatalytic tests conducted under midsummer sunlight reveal that the ternary catalyst removes 91.41% of 40 ppm EY-3RS within 100 min, markedly surpassing the binary catalyst (86.65%) and TiO2 (81.48%). Activity trends persist across a wide range of operational variables, including dye concentrations (20–100 ppm), catalyst dosages (10–40 mg), pH levels (3–11), and irradiation times (up to 100 min). The material retains ≈ 93% of its initial efficiency after four consecutive cycles, evidencing good reusability. This work introduces the first nanophotocatalytic strategy for EY-3RS degradation and underscores the promise of multi-oxide heterojunctions for solar-driven remediation of colored effluents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalysis for Environmental Applications)
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22 pages, 5670 KiB  
Article
Tailoring TiO2/TiN Bi-Layer Interfaces via Nitrogen Diffusion and Gold Functionalization for Advanced Photocatalysis
by Jelena P. Georgijević, Tijana Stamenković, Tijana Đorđević, Danilo Kisić, Vladimir Rajić and Dejan Pjević
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080701 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 486
Abstract
100 nm thick TiO2/TiN bilayers with varying thickness ratios were deposited via reactive sputtering of a Ti target in controlled oxygen and nitrogen atmospheres. Post-deposition annealing in air at 600 °C was performed to induce nitrogen diffusion through the oxygen-deficient TiO [...] Read more.
100 nm thick TiO2/TiN bilayers with varying thickness ratios were deposited via reactive sputtering of a Ti target in controlled oxygen and nitrogen atmospheres. Post-deposition annealing in air at 600 °C was performed to induce nitrogen diffusion through the oxygen-deficient TiO2 layer. The resulting changes in morphology and chemical environment were investigated in detail using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Detailed TEM and XPS analyses have confirmed nitrogen diffusion across the TiO2 layer, with surface nitrogen concentration and the ratio of interstitial to substitutional nitrogen dependent on the TiO2/TiN mass ratio. Optical studies demonstrated modifications in optical constants and a reduction of the effective bandgap from 3.2 eV to 2.6 eV due to new energy states introduced by nitrogen doping. Changes in surface free energy induced by nitrogen incorporation showed a correlation to nitrogen doping sites on the surface, which had positive effects on overall photocatalytic activity. Photocatalytic activity, assessed through methylene blue degradation, showed enhancement attributed to nitrogen doping. Additionally, deposition of a 5 nm gold layer on the annealed sample enabled investigation of synergistic effects between nitrogen doping and gold incorporation, resulting in further improved photocatalytic performance. These findings establish the TiO2/TiN bilayer as a versatile platform for supporting thin gold films with enhanced photocatalytic properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalysis for Environmental Applications)
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14 pages, 4970 KiB  
Article
Correlation of the Microstructural, Chemical, Luminescent, and Photocatalytic Properties of SrGd2O4 Doped with Rare Earth Ions
by Tijana Stamenković and Vesna Lojpur
Catalysts 2025, 15(6), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15060522 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 572
Abstract
This study evaluated the relationship between the microstructure, photoluminescence, and photocatalytic properties of newly synthesized nanostructured phosphor materials. The combustion method was used to create samples of down-converting SrGd2O4 doped with Dy3+ ions (1, and 7 at%) and up-converting [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the relationship between the microstructure, photoluminescence, and photocatalytic properties of newly synthesized nanostructured phosphor materials. The combustion method was used to create samples of down-converting SrGd2O4 doped with Dy3+ ions (1, and 7 at%) and up-converting SrGd2O4 co-doped with varying quantities of Yb3+ ions (2, and 6 at%) and a constant quantity of Ho3+ ions (1 at%). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the existence of porous agglomerated round-shaped particles, with the size around 150 nm, arranged in network-like structures. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the presence of all structural elements and their homogeneous distribution throughout the particles. The presence of specific emission peaks associated with Dy3+ or Ho3+ dopant ions was demonstrated by luminescent measurement. The degradation processes of specific organic dyes (methylene blue for up-converters and rhodamine B for down-converters) under simulated sun irradiation were used to investigate photocatalytic activity. A reduction in dye concentration in aqueous solutions was measured using UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy. The results showed a successful dye breakdown rate after 4 h, and aliquots of the working solutions were obtained at precise intervals. Additionally, the results indicated that samples with the highest luminescence intensity exhibited superior photocatalytic activity, suggesting a significant promise for usage as multifunctional materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalysis for Environmental Applications)
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Review

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36 pages, 9312 KiB  
Review
Current Progress in the Biosynthesis of Metal Sulfide Nanomaterials for the Degradation of Dyes: A Review
by Carol D. Langa, Nonhlangabezo Mabuba and Nomso C. Hintsho-Mbita
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 727; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080727 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 415
Abstract
The contamination of water bodies by industrial dyes poses a significant environmental challenge on a global scale. Conventional wastewater treatment methods often suffer from limitations related to high cost, limited efficiency, and potential secondary environmental impacts. Recent advances in photocatalytic technologies have highlighted [...] Read more.
The contamination of water bodies by industrial dyes poses a significant environmental challenge on a global scale. Conventional wastewater treatment methods often suffer from limitations related to high cost, limited efficiency, and potential secondary environmental impacts. Recent advances in photocatalytic technologies have highlighted the potential of metal sulfide-based photocatalysts, particularly those synthesized through environmentally friendly, plant-mediated approaches, as promising alternatives for efficient and sustainable dye degradation. However, despite their promising potential, metal sulfide photocatalysts often suffer from limitations such as photocorrosion, low stability under irradiation, and rapid recombination of charge carriers, which restrict their long-term applicability. In light of these challenges, this review provides a comprehensive examination of the physicochemical characteristics, synthetic strategies, and photocatalytic applications of metal sulfides. Particular emphasis is placed on green synthesis routes employing plant-derived extracts, which offer environmentally benign and sustainable alternatives to conventional methods. Moreover, the review elucidates various modification approaches, most notably, the formation of heterostructures, as viable strategies to enhance photocatalytic efficiency and mitigate the aforementioned drawbacks. The green synthesis of metal sulfides, aligned with the principles of green chemistry, offers a promising route toward the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly water treatment technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalysis for Environmental Applications)
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26 pages, 11157 KiB  
Review
Photocatalytic Degradation of Environmental Contaminants: Transformation Products and Effects on Photocatalytic Performance
by Ailton José Moreira, Gleison Neres Marques, Kelvin Costa de Araújo, Alex Silva de Moraes, Lucia Helena Mascaro and Ernesto Chaves Pereira
Catalysts 2025, 15(7), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15070643 - 30 Jun 2025
Viewed by 521
Abstract
Advanced oxidation processes are technologies currently being developed and applied to degrade many emerging contaminants that require special attention due to the risks associated with health and the environment. However, the transformation products (TPs) produced by the degradation of these contaminants have attracted [...] Read more.
Advanced oxidation processes are technologies currently being developed and applied to degrade many emerging contaminants that require special attention due to the risks associated with health and the environment. However, the transformation products (TPs) produced by the degradation of these contaminants have attracted little attention from the community regarding their effects on degradation processes, persistence, and environmental toxicity. To present this concern to the scientific community, this article provides data and information that allows us to identify that TPs cannot be pushed to the background or completely ignored in environmental decontamination studies. To this end, heterogeneous photocatalysis was chosen as the primary data collection mechanism due to its interdisciplinary nature. Computational simulation tools, such as Density Functional Theory (DFT), which are widely used to study the properties of materials and contaminants, are very useful and should be applied more frequently to understand the properties of TP. These compounds can interact with photocatalysts and impact the degradation performance of the primary contaminant. Monitoring TPs in degradation reactions is also a challenge due to the lack of analytical standards, the variability of the compounds formed, and the low concentrations produced. The results presented here allow us to conclude that these TPs can affect photocatalytic performance, induce questionable conclusions about their performance, be more toxic than the contaminant of origin, and, above all, contribute relevant information to conclude about the degradation mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Photocatalysis for Environmental Applications)
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