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Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification
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Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 20867

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xiaowang Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
Interests: environmental purification materials; rare earth functional materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid development of modern industry has caused numerous energy and environmental issues. For instance, serious environmental pollution, such as volatile organic compounds, organic/inorganic air pollutants, toxic dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and heavy metal ions’ wastewater, hinders the sustainable development of humanity. Photocatalytic treatment with the application of sunlight offers an inexpensive and green technology with the potential to completely remove refractory pollutants. Extensive efforts have been made in developing high-efficiency photocatalytic materials for environmental purification. In consideration of the unsatisfactory catalytic performance of pristine materials, diverse modification strategies, such as nanostructure construction, crystal structure optimization, surface property modification, defect engineering, and heterojunction formation, are employed to improve their performance.

This Research Topic intends to compile recent progress and challenges in the advancement of photocatalytic materials for environmental purification. Research on various photocatalysts and electrocatalysts, including metals, metal oxides, metal sulfides, nonmetallic oxides, carbonaceous materials, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), etc., is welcome in relation to their design, synthesis, theory, nanostructure, and characterization. Furthermore, their composites always play an important role in achieving higher performance in the fields of environmental catalysis.

Dr. Xiaowang Lu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • photocatalytic nanomaterials
  • photocatalysis
  • air purification
  • VOC degradation
  • wastewater treatment

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 2704 KiB  
Article
Removal from Water of Some Pharmaceuticals by Photolysis and Photocatalysis: Kinetic Models
by Miguel A. Jiménez-López, María C. Rubio-Gonzaga and Fernando J. Beltrán
Catalysts 2025, 15(5), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15050471 - 10 May 2025
Viewed by 259
Abstract
Pharmaceutical residues are emerging contaminants of growing concern due to their persistence and poor removal efficiency in conventional wastewater treatment plants. This study evaluates UVC photolysis with type C ultraviolet radiation (UVC) and UVC/TiO2 photocatalysis of a mixture of four pharmaceuticals—atenolol (ATL), [...] Read more.
Pharmaceutical residues are emerging contaminants of growing concern due to their persistence and poor removal efficiency in conventional wastewater treatment plants. This study evaluates UVC photolysis with type C ultraviolet radiation (UVC) and UVC/TiO2 photocatalysis of a mixture of four pharmaceuticals—atenolol (ATL), acetaminophen (ACM), clofibric acid (CLA), and antipyrine (ANT)—commonly found in treated urban wastewater. A comprehensive kinetic model was developed to describe their degradation, taking into account the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS): hydroxyl (HO●), superoxide ion (O2●−) radicals, and singlet oxygen (1O2), along with their reactions with both the pharmaceuticals and dissolved organic matter. Direct quantum yields were determined as 8.05 × 10−3 mol·Einstein−1 for ATL, 1.93 × 10−3 for ACM, 3.12 × 10−1 for CLA, and 5.12 × 10−2 for ANT. In addition, rate constants of the reactions between singlet oxygen and pharmaceuticals were 9.93, 1.3 × 106, 1.18 × 102, and 1.14 × 104 M−1s−1 for ATL, ACM, CLA, and ANT, respectively. Scavenger experiments confirmed the key role of the ROS involved. The model reproduces the inhibitory effect of natural organic matter in secondary effluent and, in most cases, treated, accurately predicts the concentration profiles of the pharmaceuticals. Under photocatalytic conditions (0.10 g·L−1 TiO2), all compounds were completely degraded in less than 15 min. This validated model provides a useful tool for understanding the degradation mechanisms of pharmaceutical mixtures and for supporting the design of effective water strategies based on photochemical processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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14 pages, 2844 KiB  
Article
Green and Eco-Friendly Egg White–TiO2 Hydrogel with Enhanced Antimicrobial, Adsorptive, and Photocatalytic Properties
by Mei Zhang and Xu Wang
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120899 - 8 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1054
Abstract
The design of multi-purpose decontaminants with environmentally friendly characteristics, low cost, and high efficiency in removing pollutants from the environment is an effective and economic strategy for maintaining the long-term development of the ecosystem. Based on the strategy of killing two birds with [...] Read more.
The design of multi-purpose decontaminants with environmentally friendly characteristics, low cost, and high efficiency in removing pollutants from the environment is an effective and economic strategy for maintaining the long-term development of the ecosystem. Based on the strategy of killing two birds with one stone, an egg white (EW)/TiO2 hydrogel with a porous structure is devised as a bio-adsorbent using waste eggs nearing their expiration date for simultaneously achieving the efficient removal of organic dyes and the inactivation of microorganisms from industrial wastewater. The characterizations of its morphology and composition using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory, energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) validate the successful synthesis of EW/TiO2. The maximum adsorption capacity of EW/TiO2 is 333.172 mg∙mL−1 according to the Langmuir model. The photodegradation of a methyl blue (MB) solution under irradiation via a xenon lamp is used to assess the photocatalytic behavior of EW/TiO2. Among the different samples, the 5 wt% TiO2-doped EW/TiO2 hydrogel shows an efficiency of 99% for 120 min of irradiation. Finally, the antibacterial properties of the EW/TiO2 hydrogel are evaluated by calculating its bacterial survival rate against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The EW/TiO2 photocatalyst exhibits a photocatalytic inactivation efficiency of 90.4%, indicating that the EW/TiO2 hydrogel possesses positive antibacterial activity via effectively inhibiting the growth of the bacteria, which is suitable for industrial wastewater treatment over a long period of time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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15 pages, 3253 KiB  
Article
Studies on Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of MoS2/X (X = WSe2, MoSe2, AlN, and ZnO) Heterojunction by First Principles
by Jibo Liu, Yuheng Jin, Bocheng Lei, Xucai Zhao, Yineng Huang, Lili Zhang and Youliang Zhu
Catalysts 2024, 14(10), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14100678 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1663
Abstract
The single-layer MoS2 is a highly sought-after semiconductor material in the field of photoelectric performance due to its exceptional electron mobility and narrow bandgap. However, its photocatalytic efficiency is hindered by the rapid recombination rate of internal photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Currently, the [...] Read more.
The single-layer MoS2 is a highly sought-after semiconductor material in the field of photoelectric performance due to its exceptional electron mobility and narrow bandgap. However, its photocatalytic efficiency is hindered by the rapid recombination rate of internal photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Currently, the construction of heterojunctions has been demonstrated to effectively mitigate the recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Therefore, this paper employs the first principles method to calculate and analyze the four heterojunctions formed by MoS2/WSe2, MoS2/MoSe2, MoS2/AlN, and MoS2/ZnO. The study demonstrates that the four heterojunctions exhibit structural stability. The construction of heterojunctions, as compared to a monolayer MoS2, leads to a reduction in the band gap, thereby lowering the electron transition barrier and enhancing the light absorption capacity of the materials. The four systems exhibit II-type heterojunction. Therefore, the construction of heterojunctions can effectively enhance the optical properties of these systems. By forming heterojunctions MoS2/WSe2 and MoS2/MoSe2, the absorption coefficient in the visible light region is significantly increased, resulting in a greater ability to respond to light compared to that of MoS2/ZnO and MoS2/AlN. Consequently, MoS2-based heterojunctions incorporating chalcogenide components WSe2 and MoSe2, respectively, exhibit superior catalytic activity compared to MoS2 heterojunctions incorporating non-chalcogenide components ZnO and AlN, respectively. The absorption spectrum analysis reveals that MoS2/MoSe2 exhibits the highest light responsivity among all investigated systems, indicating its superior photoelectric performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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16 pages, 4499 KiB  
Article
Modular Photocatalytic Reactor for the Removal of Estrogens from Aqueous Solutions
by Liliana Bobirică, Cristina Orbeci, Cristian Pîrvu, Alexandra Constantinescu, Elena Iuliana Bîru, Giovanina Iuliana Ionică, Ecaterina Matei, Andrei Constantin Berbecaru and Constantin Bobirică
Catalysts 2024, 14(10), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14100661 - 24 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1153
Abstract
Estrogens, widely used for therapeutic or contraceptive purposes, act as endocrine disruptors in aquatic systems and have adverse effects on a wide range of living organisms. Wastewater insufficiently treated by conventional methods is the main way for estrogens to enter aquatic systems. Therefore, [...] Read more.
Estrogens, widely used for therapeutic or contraceptive purposes, act as endocrine disruptors in aquatic systems and have adverse effects on a wide range of living organisms. Wastewater insufficiently treated by conventional methods is the main way for estrogens to enter aquatic systems. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop a novel photocatalytic system for the removal of the estrogenic mixture estradiol valerate/norgestrel from wastewater. The photocatalytic modules are operated in a plug flow reactor system under a UV-A radiation field, and the photocatalyst (TiO2, ZnO or TiO2/ZnO) is immobilized on an inert support of glass balls that are strung on stainless-steel wire and arranged in rows along the photocatalytic modules. The photocatalysts were synthesized by the sol–gel method and then deposited on the inert glass support by the hot method, after which it was calcined for two hours at a temperature of 500 °C. The experimental results showed that the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation largely depends on the dose of photocatalyst. The dose of photocatalyst can be adjusted by adding or removing photocatalytic modules, each of which have an approximately equal amount of photocatalyst. The best result was obtained for the TiO2/ZnO photocatalyst, the organic substrate being practically mineralized in 120 min, for which only two photocatalytic modules are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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22 pages, 6286 KiB  
Article
Fe3O4-CdO Nanocomposite for Organic Dye Photocatalytic Degradation: Synthesis and Characterization
by Ahlam Albeladi, Zaheer Khan, Shaeel Ahmed Al-Thabaiti, Rajan Patel, Maqsood Ahmad Malik and Shilpa Mehta
Catalysts 2024, 14(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14010071 - 17 Jan 2024
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3050
Abstract
In this study, pure CdO nanoparticles, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and Fe3O4-CdO nanocomposites were prepared via a solution combustion method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template. These prepared nanomaterial samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), [...] Read more.
In this study, pure CdO nanoparticles, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and Fe3O4-CdO nanocomposites were prepared via a solution combustion method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template. These prepared nanomaterial samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), transmittance electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. XRD patterns confirmed the purity and the crystalline nature of the prepared samples. FTIR and Raman spectra observed the metal-oxygen (M-O) bond formation. UV-vis DRS studies were performed to investigate the optical properties and the bandgap energy determination. The surface morphology and the size of the pure CdO nanoparticles, magnetic Fe3O4, and nanocomposites of Fe3O4-CdO were determined via TEM and SEM analysis. Under optimum experimental conditions, the Fe3O4-CdO nanocomposites were applied for photocatalytic activity against Methylene blue dye. Under visible light irradiation, Fe3O4-CdO nanostructures showed an efficient photocatalytic degradation of 92% against Methylene blue organic dye and showed excellent stability for multiple cycles of reuse. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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16 pages, 5866 KiB  
Article
Electron Regulation in Pt-M (M = Cu, Co, and Ni) Decorated WO3 Thin Films for Photocatalytic Degradation Performance
by Jinkang Pan, Lihua Zhang, Cunxia Wang, Kangjie Gao and Pengyu Dong
Catalysts 2023, 13(7), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13071044 - 28 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1960
Abstract
In this study, Pt-M/WO3 (M = Cu, Co, and Ni) thin films are effectively synthesized by preparing homogeneous precursor sols, spin-coating, toluene-etching, and calcination. Furthermore, the microstructural, chemical, and electrochemical properties of the WO3, Pt-Cu/WO3, Pt-Co/WO3, [...] Read more.
In this study, Pt-M/WO3 (M = Cu, Co, and Ni) thin films are effectively synthesized by preparing homogeneous precursor sols, spin-coating, toluene-etching, and calcination. Furthermore, the microstructural, chemical, and electrochemical properties of the WO3, Pt-Cu/WO3, Pt-Co/WO3, and Pt-Ni/WO3 thin films are also systematically compared. The results demonstrate that when compared to the WO3 thin film, the photocatalytic capability for methylene blue (MB) solution degradation is greatly increased in the Pt-M/WO3 thin films. Transfer routes for photogenerated charges and an improved photocatalytic process are suggested based on the experimental results. Due to the large difference in the work function (Φ) between the bimetallic alloy Pt-M and WO3, a bending of the energy bands at the Pt-M/WO3 interface is presented. Furthermore, the introduction of transition metals such as Cu, Co, or Ni modifies the electronic structure of Pt-M/WO3 thin films, facilitating the separation and migration of electrons and holes. Specifically, the photogenerated electrons migrate from the CB of WO3 to Pt-Co or Pt-Ni nanoparticles in the samples of Pt-Co/WO3 or Pt-Ni/WO3 thin films, while the hot electrons from the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Cu could transfer to the conduction band (CB) of WO3 and other electrons generated from the photoexcitation of the WO3 semiconductor itself in the sample of the Pt-Cu/WO3 thin film. In summary, this work proposes a unique strategy for creating electron regulation in Pt-M decorated WO3 thin films for photocatalytic application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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14 pages, 6101 KiB  
Article
One-Pot Fabrication of 2D/2D CdIn2S4/In2S3 Heterojunction for Boosting Photocatalytic Cr(VI) Reduction
by Jiawei Hu, Jiaxin Wu, Siyuan Zhang, Wenxuan Chen, Wen Xiao, Haijun Hou, Xiaowang Lu, Chao Liu and Qinfang Zhang
Catalysts 2023, 13(5), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13050826 - 29 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2502
Abstract
The development of efficient heterojunction photocatalysts with a facilitated charge carrier separation rate and improved light-harvesting capacity is still a challenging issue for effectively solving environmental pollution. Herein, a one-step refluxing process was employed to construct 2D/2D CdIn2S4/In2 [...] Read more.
The development of efficient heterojunction photocatalysts with a facilitated charge carrier separation rate and improved light-harvesting capacity is still a challenging issue for effectively solving environmental pollution. Herein, a one-step refluxing process was employed to construct 2D/2D CdIn2S4/In2S3 (CISI) heterojunction photocatalysts with an intimate interface between these two components. The crystal structure, morphology, light-harvesting capacity, and Cr(VI) photoreduction performance were systematically investigated and discussed in detail. The tight interface formed between CdIn2S4 (CIS) and In2S3 (IS) could effectively facilitate the charge carrier separation and transfer. Thus, the resulting CISI composites exhibited a high efficiency for Cr(VI) photoreduction under visible light, with the optimal sample of 0.5 CISI. The charge transfer kinetics were deeply investigated by multiple techniques. Based on the characterization results, a possible mechanism for Cr(VI) photoreduction was proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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15 pages, 11647 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Two-Dimensional Layered CeO2/Bi2O3 Composites for Efficient Photocatalytic Desulfurization
by Xiaowang Lu, Wenxuan Chen, Haijun Hou, Junchao Qian and Qinfang Zhang
Catalysts 2023, 13(5), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13050821 - 29 Apr 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2933
Abstract
A two-dimensional layered CeO2/Bi2O3 composite was synthesized by microwave solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used [...] Read more.
A two-dimensional layered CeO2/Bi2O3 composite was synthesized by microwave solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to studied crystal structure, morphology, optical performance, elemental composition and the surface electronic state of the samples. The photocatalytic properties of the prepared samples were evaluated by photocatalytic desulfurization under visible light. When the molar ratio of Ce and Bi was 1:2, CeO2/Bi2O3 composite presented the highest photocatalytic desulfurization rate. Transient Photocurrent measurement, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) showed that CeO2 and Bi2O3 formed a heterojunction, which could promote the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, improving the photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, it was found that the active species of hydroxyl radical (·OH) played an important role in the photocatalytic degradation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) based on the active species capture experiment. Finally, a plausible mechanism for the photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization of this nanocomposite was proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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15 pages, 6548 KiB  
Article
Band Gap Engineering in Quadruple-Layered Sillén–Aurivillius Perovskite Oxychlorides Bi7Fe2Ti2O17X (X = Cl, Br, I) for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance
by Jikun Chen, Yan Gu, Shishi Xu, Yunxiang Zhang, Zhe Zhang, Lin Shi, Zhichao Mu, Chenliang Zhou, Jiali Zhang and Qinfang Zhang
Catalysts 2023, 13(4), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13040751 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2460
Abstract
Developing efficient photocatalyst for the photoreduction of CO2 and degradation of organic pollutants is an effective alternative to address increasingly serious energy problems and environmental pollution. Herein, the isostructural Sillén–Aurivillius oxyhalides, Bi7Fe2Ti2O17X (X = [...] Read more.
Developing efficient photocatalyst for the photoreduction of CO2 and degradation of organic pollutants is an effective alternative to address increasingly serious energy problems and environmental pollution. Herein, the isostructural Sillén–Aurivillius oxyhalides, Bi7Fe2Ti2O17X (X = Cl, Br, and I; BFTOX), are fabricated for CO2 reduction and degradation of organic pollutants for the first time. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the valence band maximum (VBM) of BFTOC and BFTOB is contributed by the dispersive 2p orbitals of O-atoms, providing the narrow band gap (Eg) and possibly the stability against self-decomposition deactivation. The photocatalytic activities of BFTOX are strongly affected by the halogens (Cl, Br, and I), namely, the BFTOCl sample displays outstanding activity improvement (3.74 μmol·g−1·h−1) for photocatalytic performance. This is mainly attributed to the high separation of charge carriers, small optical band gap, and extended optical absorption. This work focuses on affording a reference to develop efficient and stable photocatalysts from Sillén-Aurivillius layered oxyhalide materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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20 pages, 14135 KiB  
Article
BiPO4/Ov-BiOBr High-Low Junctions for Efficient Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance for Tetracycline Degradation and H2O2 Production
by Minghui Tang, Xibao Li, Fang Deng, Lu Han, Yu Xie, Juntong Huang, Zhi Chen, Zhijun Feng and Yingtang Zhou
Catalysts 2023, 13(3), 634; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13030634 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2800
Abstract
Through a two-step solvothermal method, different molar ratios of BiPO4 were grown in situ on the surface of oxygen-vacancy-rich BiOBr (Ov-BiOBr), successfully constructing a BiPO4/Ov-BiOBr heterojunction composite material. By constructing a novel type I high-low junction between the semiconductor BiPO [...] Read more.
Through a two-step solvothermal method, different molar ratios of BiPO4 were grown in situ on the surface of oxygen-vacancy-rich BiOBr (Ov-BiOBr), successfully constructing a BiPO4/Ov-BiOBr heterojunction composite material. By constructing a novel type I high-low junction between the semiconductor BiPO4 and Ov-BiOBr, stronger oxidative holes or reductive electrons were retained, thereby improving the redox performance of the photocatalyst. The composite catalyst with a 10% molar content of BiPO4 demonstrated the highest degradation rate of tetracycline (TC), degrading over 95% within 90 min, with a rate constant of 0.02534 min−1, which is 2.3 times that of Ov-BiOBr and 22 times that of BiPO4. The 10% BiPO4/Ov-BiOBr sample displayed the best photocatalytic activity, producing 139 μmol·L−1 H2O2 in 120 min, which is 3.6 times the efficiency of Ov-BiOBr and 19 times that of BiPO4. This was due to the appropriate bandgap matching between BiPO4 and Ov-BiOBr, the photo-generated electron transfer channel via Bi-bridge, and efficient charge separation. It was inferred that the free radical species ·OH and ·O2− played the dominant role in the photocatalytic process. Based on experimental and theoretical results, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Purification)
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