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Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Pollutants in Wastewater
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Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Pollutants in Wastewater

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1549

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Zhi Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Green Chemistry and Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: photocatalysis; photodegradation; wastewater treatment; energy conversion; nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With ever-increasing industrialization and urbanization, wastewater contamination has become a critical environmental challenge. Traditional treatment methods often fall short in effectively removing persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants. Photocatalysis, leveraging light-driven chemical reactions, offers a promising solution, through the degradation of pollutants into harmless byproducts. Researchers are focusing on enhancing the efficiency of photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂), by doping with metals or non-metals to improve visible light absorption. Novel materials like graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are also gaining attention due to their high surface areas and tunable properties. Additionally, the integration of nanotechnology has led to the development of nanostructured photocatalysts, which offer higher reactivity and better pollutant adsorption. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), combined with photocatalysis, are also being explored to further boost degradation rates.

This Special Issue highlights the growing need for sustainable and efficient water treatment technologies and aims to showcase cutting-edge research, including advancements in photocatalyst design, mechanistic insights, and scalable applications. Any original papers that address key challenges such as catalyst efficiency, stability, and recyclability, and which seek to foster innovation and collaboration in developing eco-friendly and cost-effective wastewater treatment, are welcome.

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. Zhi Zhu
Guest Editor

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

  • photocatalytic degradation
  • photodegradation
  • wastewater treatment
  • emerging contaminants
  • nanostructured photocatalysts
  • advanced oxidation processes (AOPs)

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 2488 KiB  
Article
Photothermal-Assisted Photocatalytic Degradation of Antibiotic by Black g-C3N4 Materials Derived from C/N Precursors and Tetrachlorofluorescein
by Xiyuan Gao, Pengnian Shan, Weilong Shi and Feng Guo
Catalysts 2025, 15(5), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15050504 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 420
Abstract
The development of photothermal-assisted photocatalytic systems with broad-spectrum solar utilization and high charge separation efficiency remains a critical challenge for antibiotic degradation. Herein, we report novel black g-C3N4 (BCN) materials synthesized via a one-step thermal copolymerization strategy using C/N precursors [...] Read more.
The development of photothermal-assisted photocatalytic systems with broad-spectrum solar utilization and high charge separation efficiency remains a critical challenge for antibiotic degradation. Herein, we report novel black g-C3N4 (BCN) materials synthesized via a one-step thermal copolymerization strategy using C/N precursors and tetrachlorofluorescein. After the introduction of tetrachlorofluorescein, the color of the sample changes, which gives BCN enhanced light absorption and a significant photothermal effect for poorly heating-assisted photocatalysis. The synergistic coupling of photothermal and photocatalytic processes enabled the optimal BCN-U sample to achieve exceptional degradation efficiency (89% within 120 min) for a typical antibiotic (e.g., tetracycline) under an LED lamp as the visible light source, outperforming conventional yellow g-C3N4 (YCN-U) by a factor of 1.37. Mechanistic studies revealed that the photothermal effect facilitates carrier separation via thermal-driven electron excitation while accelerating reactive oxygen species (•OH and •O2−) generation. The synergistic interplay between photocatalysis and photothermal effects, which improved mass transfer, ensures robust stability, which provides new insights into designing dual-functional carbon nitride-based materials for sustainable environmental remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Pollutants in Wastewater)
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15 pages, 3910 KiB  
Article
Incorporating Ag Nanocrystals with LaFeO3 Photocathodes Towards Greatly Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Properties
by Sijie Li, Hao Zeng, Jiaqi Fan, Mei Zhu, Caiyi Zhang, Xizhong An, Zhifu Luo, Haitao Fu and Xiaohong Yang
Catalysts 2025, 15(5), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15050456 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 452
Abstract
This study focuses on enhancing the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) performance of LaFeO3 photocathodes by incorporating Ag nanocrystals. LaFeO3, a perovskite-type metal oxide semiconductor, has potential in PEC water splitting but suffers from fast charge carrier recombination. Ag nanoparticles are introduced due [...] Read more.
This study focuses on enhancing the photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) performance of LaFeO3 photocathodes by incorporating Ag nanocrystals. LaFeO3, a perovskite-type metal oxide semiconductor, has potential in PEC water splitting but suffers from fast charge carrier recombination. Ag nanoparticles are introduced due to their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) property and ability to form Schottky junctions with LaFeO3. A series of Ag/LaFeO3 materials are prepared using the molten salt method for LaFeO3 synthesis and the direct reduction method for Ag loading. The results show that Ag nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on LaFeO3. The 3 mol% Ag/LaFeO3 photocathode demonstrates a remarkable ninefold increase in photocurrent density (15 mA·cm−2 at −0.2 V vs. RHE) compared to pure LaFeO3 (1.7 mA·cm−2). The band gap of LaFeO3 is reduced from 2.07 eV to 1.92 eV with 3 mol% Ag loading, and the charge transfer impedance is reduced by 77%, while the carrier concentration increases by 2.3 times. The novelty of this work lies in the comprehensive investigation of the interaction mechanisms between Ag nanoparticles and LaFeO3, which lead to enhanced light absorption, improved charge separation, and increased electrochemical activity. The optimized Ag loading not only improves the photocatalytic efficiency but also enhances the stability of the photocathode. This work provides valuable insights into the interaction between Ag and LaFeO3, and offers experimental and theoretical support for developing efficient photocatalytic materials for PEC water splitting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Pollutants in Wastewater)
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Review

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30 pages, 8937 KiB  
Review
Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based S-Scheme Heterojunctions: Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Dye Degradation
by Xiaofang Song, Zhenxing Ma, Zhiyong Wang, Shiyi Jin, Jingding Hu, Penghui Xu and Yijiang Chen
Catalysts 2025, 15(6), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15060592 - 15 Jun 2025
Viewed by 476
Abstract
With the rapid advancement of industrialization, dye-containing wastewater has emerged as one of the primary pollution sources in aquatic environments, posing a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysis technology, known for its high efficiency and environmental compatibility, is considered [...] Read more.
With the rapid advancement of industrialization, dye-containing wastewater has emerged as one of the primary pollution sources in aquatic environments, posing a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysis technology, known for its high efficiency and environmental compatibility, is considered a strategic solution for addressing environmental pollution challenges. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). However, systematic summaries and in-depth analyses of these advancements remain limited. This study provides a comprehensive review of the research progress of g-C3N4-based S-scheme heterojunction systems in the field of photocatalytic dye degradation. It elaborates on the fundamental concepts, operational mechanisms, and representative applications of these systems while exploring the latest advancements in synthesis strategies, catalytic performance optimization, and the underlying mechanisms. Finally, this review discusses the existing challenges and future prospects of g-C3N4-based S-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic materials, aiming to offer valuable insights and guidance for further research in this area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Pollutants in Wastewater)
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