Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.1
3.0
Journals
Inorganics
Special Issues
Novel Photo(electro)catalytic Degradation
share announcement

Novel Photo(electro)catalytic Degradation

A special issue of Inorganics (ISSN 2304-6740). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Solid-State Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 5132

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Potlako J. Mafa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Interests: photocatalysis; photoelectrocatalysis; environmental remediation; emerging contaminants degradation; advanced oxidation processes; metal oxides photocatalysts; metal-free photocatalysts; floating photocatalysts; material science; ozonation; water treatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Organic, inorganic, and pathogen-related water pollution are cause for serious concern, as the consequences are negatively impact both water quality and human health. Fortunately, two processes (heterogeneous photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis) have been successfully utilized in various fields, such as environmental protection and wastewater treatment. These techniques are effective, cost-effective, and can be implemented under ambient conditions. However, it is necessary to design new photoactive materials for water cleanup as an additional solution to the ongoing water pollution issue. Developing new active and effective yet environmentally benign heterojunction materials would be one potential solution to such challenges. On the other hand, water cleanup processes must be intensified to respond to the ongoing demand for water, which has numerous uses.

This Special Issue aims to explore the development of new and novel photo(electro)catalytic materials and their applications in water remediation, including in response to organic, inorganic, and microbial contaminants. Studies that address the design, synthesis, and characterization of photo(electro)catalytic materials, water pollution control, recent photoactive materials, and mechanism elucidation after degradation/reduction are also encouraged.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Nanocomposite heterogeneous and homogeneous water remediation.
  • Mechanisms of photo(electro)catalytic degradation/reduction.
  • New materials for photo(electro)catalytic applications.
  • Environmental photo(electro)catalytic applications.
  • Wastewater treatment.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Potlako J. Mafa
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. Inorganics 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

  • heterogeneous catalysts
  • photocatalysis
  • photoelectrocatalysis
  • photo-Fenton
  • mechanisms
  • organic pollutants
  • inorganic contaminants
  • water treatment

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 8319 KB  
Article
Photocatalytic Properties of Office-Paper-Waste-Derived Activated Carbon for Efficient Degradation of Organic Pollutants
by Ana Varadi, Adriana Popa, Dana Toloman, Cristian Leostean, Ioana Perhaiţă, Monica Dan, Arpad Mihai Rostas, Septimiu Tripon, Sergiu Macavei and Maria Stefan
Inorganics 2025, 13(6), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics13060196 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 680
Abstract
Sustainable waste recycling continues to be one of the most significant challenges in this century, especially for the office paper sector. On top of that, photocatalysis depends on solar radiation as an unlimited and environmentally friendly energy source for removing organic pollutants from [...] Read more.
Sustainable waste recycling continues to be one of the most significant challenges in this century, especially for the office paper sector. On top of that, photocatalysis depends on solar radiation as an unlimited and environmentally friendly energy source for removing organic pollutants from contaminated water. The obtaining of AC from office paper waste was carried out with the help of the chemical activation method using ZnCl2 as an activation agent, followed by heating the samples in adequate conditions. In the present research, we assessed the influence of the amount of ZnCl2 activator on the properties of AC. In our experimental conditions, a part of ZnCl2 was transformed into ZnO, deposited onto AC, and formed a composite. We attempted to minimize aggressive chemical agents through inexpensive technical solutions and experimental approaches. The properties of the obtained AC samples were evaluated by XRD, XPS, SEM/EDX, EPR, and surface area and porosity investigations. All of the samples exhibit photocatalytic activity toward Rhodamine B. The photocatalytic mechanism was evaluated considering the existence of reactive oxygen species (ROSs), as evidenced by spin-trapping experiments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalytic Degradation)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 5345 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in Graphitic Carbon Nitride-Based Materials in the Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants
by Dan Xu, Heshan Cai, Daguang Li, Feng Chen, Shuwen Han, Xiaojuan Chen, Zhenyi Li, Zebang He, Zhuhong Chen, Jiabao He, Weiyu Huang, Xinyi Tang, Yihuan Wen and Yejun Feng
Inorganics 2025, 13(10), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics13100319 - 26 Sep 2025
Viewed by 502
Abstract
The increasing presence of emerging contaminants (ECs) has attracted considerable attention due to their potential harm to human health and ecosystems. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a semiconductor devoid of metals, stands out due to its distinctive optical properties and [...] Read more.
The increasing presence of emerging contaminants (ECs) has attracted considerable attention due to their potential harm to human health and ecosystems. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a semiconductor devoid of metals, stands out due to its distinctive optical properties and strong resistance to chemical degradation, which holds significant promise in the photocatalytic degradation of ECs. However, the inherent limitations of g-C3N4, such as its reduced specific surface area and the swift recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, have prompted extensive research on modification strategies to enhance its photocatalytic performance. Current research on g-C3N4-based materials is often constrained in scope, with most reviews focusing solely on modification strategies or its application in degrading a single category of emerging contaminants (ECs). In this review, a systematic overview of synthesis methods and advanced modification strategies for g-C3N4-based materials is discussed, highlighting their recent advances in the photocatalytic degradation of various ECs using g-C3N4-based materials, which underscores their potential for environmental remediation. Moreover, this article critically examines the current challenges and outlines future research directions, with particular emphasis on integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning to accelerate the development of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts and optimize degradation processes, thereby promoting their efficient application in the photocatalytic degradation of ECs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Photo(electro)catalytic Degradation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop