Search Results (197)

Despite significant progress in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, high fabrication costs and limited efficiency of photoanodes hinder practical applications. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄), with its low cost, non-toxicity, and suitable band structure, is a promising photoanode material but suffers from poor charge transport, sluggish surface kinetics, and photocorrosion. In this study, porous monoclinic BiVO₄ films are fabricated via a simplified successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, followed by borate treatment and PEC deposition of NiFeO_x. The resulting B/BiVO₄/NiFeO_x photoanode exhibits a significantly enhanced photocurrent density of 2.45 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 V vs. RHE—5.3 times higher than pristine BiVO₄. It also achieves an ABPE of 0.77% and a charge transfer efficiency of 79.5%. These results demonstrate that dual surface modification via borate and NiFeO_x is a cost-effective strategy to improve BiVO₄-based PEC water splitting performance. This work provides a promising pathway for the scalable development of efficient and economically viable photoanodes for solar hydrogen production. Full article

The Mo:BiVO₄/FeOOH photoelectrode was synthesized through the deposition of FeOOH onto the surface of the Mo:BiVO₄ photoelectrode. The composite photoelectrode demonstrated a photocurrent of 1.8 mA·cm⁻², which is three times greater than that observed for pure BiVO₄. Furthermore, the glycerol conversion rate was recorded at 79 μmol·cm⁻²·h⁻¹, approximately double that of pure BiVO₄, while the selectivity for glyceraldehyde reached 49%, also about twice that of pure BiVO₄. The incorporation of Mo has been shown to enhance the stability of the BiVO₄. Additionally, Mo doping improves the efficiency of electron-hole transport and increases the carrier concentration within the BiVO₄. This enhancement leads to a greater number of holes participating in the formation of iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH), thereby stabilizing the FeOOH co-catalyst within the glycerol conversion system. The FeOOH co-catalyst facilitates the adsorption and oxidation of the primary hydroxyl group of glycerol, resulting in the cleavage of the C−H bond to generate a carbon radical (C). The interaction between the carbon radical and the hydroxyl group produces an intermediate, which subsequently dehydrates to form glyceraldehyde (GLAD). Full article

As a persistent organic pollutant, methoxychlor has drawn considerable environmental attention. Photocatalysis, recognized for its environmentally friendly characteristics, has been widely utilized for the degradation of contaminants. In this study, the photocatalytic material BiVO₄@diatomite was successfully synthesized via the liquid-phase precipitation method. The synthesized material was comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, providing robust evidence for the material’s stability and biocompatibility. The results confirmed the successful deposition of BiVO₄ onto the diatomite surface. Furthermore, the effects of various parameters, including the initial methoxychlor concentration, pH, light exposure duration, and illumination intensity, on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methoxychlor by BiVO₄@diatomite were systematically investigated to optimize degradation performance. The identification of optimal reaction conditions and the proposed degradation mechanism based on experimental findings will be valuable for guiding future studies and practical applications in environmental pollution control. The integration of BiVO₄ with diatomite in this study yields a novel composite system with significantly enhanced photocatalytic degradation performance, offering fresh insights into the design of efficient, stable, and eco-friendly materials for pollutant removal. Full article

Complex antimony pyrochlores Bi_2.7M_0.46Ni_0.70Sb₂O_10+Δ (M = Zn, Mg) were synthesized from oxide precursors, using the solid-state reaction method. For each composition variant, the pyrochlore phase formation process was studied during solid-state synthesis in the range of 500–1050 °C. The influence of zinc and magnesium on the phase formation process was established. The interaction of oxide precursors occurs at a temperature of 600 °C and higher, resulting in the formation of bismuth stibate (Bi₃SbO₇) as a binary impurity phase. Oxide precursors, including bismuth(III) and antimony(III,V) oxides, are fixed in the samples up to 750 °C, at which point the intermediate cubic phase Bi₃M_2/3Sb_7/3O₁₁ (sp. gr. Pn-3, M = Zn, Ni) is formed in the zinc system. Interacting with transition element oxides, it is transformed into pyrochlore. An intermediate phase with the Bi_4.66Ca_1.09VO_10.5 structure (sp. gr. Pnnm) was found in the magnesium system. The unit cell parameter of pyrochlore for two samples has a minimum value at 800 °C, which is associated with the onset of high-temperature synthesis of pyrochlore. The synthesis of phase-pure pyrochlores is confirmed by high-resolution Raman spectroscopy. The data interpretation showed that the cations in Ni/Zn pyrochlore are more likely to be incorporated into bismuth positions than in Ni/Mg pyrochlore. The nickel–magnesium pyrochlore is characterized by a low-porosity microstructure, with grain sizes of up to 3 μm, according to SEM data. Zinc oxide has a sintering effect on ceramics. Therefore, the grain size in ceramics is large and varies from 2 to 7 μm. Full article

Background: In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, organizational agility (OA) has become increasingly critical for companies to maintain competitiveness and sustainability. Business intelligence (BI) is pivotal in enabling organizational agility by providing the necessary tools and insights to navigate uncertainties and capitalize on opportunities. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between BI and organizational agility, particularly within the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The systematic literature review followed Kitchenham’s guidelines, which was supplemented with a VOS analysis to visualize the interconnectedness of BI and organizational agility. The analysis revealed a direct relationship between BI and organizational agility, with the critical variables of innovation, competitive advantage, firm performance, and dynamic capabilities influencing this connection. The MENA region shows promise in contributing to this field, but further research is needed. Leveraging BI capabilities can enhance organizational agility, positioning companies for sustained success amidst uncertainty. Addressing challenges and fostering a supportive organizational culture is essential for realizing the full potential of BI-driven agility. This study makes an original and timely contribution by examining the relationship between business intelligence (BI) and organizational agility (OA) through a systematic literature review across multiple countries. The study focuses specifically on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which has received insufficient attention in previous research. Unlike previous studies that focus on isolated cases, this work combines bibliometric analysis with a structured review methodology. It provides a clear summary of how BI supports key outcomes such as innovation, dynamic capabilities, and competitive advantage Full article

A simple method for synthesizing novel Pd-In₂O₃/BiVO₄ composites by using a hydrothermal technique is proposed. The synthesized samples showed a monoclinic phase and featured homogeneously dispersed Pd and BiVO₄ dopants on In₂O₃, as confirmed by XRD, SEM, and XPS analyses. The Pd-In₂O₃/BiVO₄ composite exhibited notable improvements, such as broadened visible-light absorption (up to 596.1 nm) and a narrowed band gap (2.08 eV vs. 2.82 eV for pure In₂O₃), a more compact and integrated morphology observed by SEM, which are expected to promote improved light harvesting and facilitate charge separation during photocatalysis. Under visible-light irradiation, the optimized 1 wt% Pd-In₂O₃/BiVO₄ achieved 99% degradation of Rhodamine B (10 mg/L) within 40 min, while pure In₂O₃ showed less than 10% removal after 60 min—highlighting the strong synergistic effect of dual doping. Additionally, the composite demonstrated excellent stability and reusability over multiple cycles. A plausible photocatalytic mechanism for this process is proposed, providing insights into the design of efficient photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. Full article

The rational design of photoanode materials is pivotal for advancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting toward sustainable hydrogen production. This review highlights recent progress in the machine learning (ML)-assisted development of nanostructured metal oxide photoanodes, focusing on bridging materials discovery and device-level performance optimization. We first delineate the fundamental physicochemical criteria for efficient photoanodes, including suitable band alignment, visible-light absorption, charge carrier mobility, and electrochemical stability. Conventional strategies such as nanostructuring, elemental doping, and surface/interface engineering are critically evaluated. We then discuss the integration of ML techniques—ranging from high-throughput density functional theory (DFT)-based screening to experimental data-driven modeling—for accelerating the identification of promising oxides (e.g., BiVO₄, Fe₂O₃, WO₃) and optimizing key parameters such as dopant selection, morphology, and catalyst interfaces. Particular attention is given to surrogate modeling, Bayesian optimization, convolutional neural networks, and explainable AI approaches that enable closed-loop synthesis-experiment-ML frameworks. ML-assisted performance prediction and tandem device design are also addressed. Finally, current challenges in data standardization, model generalizability, and experimental validation are outlined, and future perspectives are proposed for integrating ML with automated platforms and physics-informed modeling to facilitate scalable PEC material development for clean energy applications. Full article

Photocatalysis has been shown to be a promising and ecofriendly approach to the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). However, preventing the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and achievement of suitable band edge positions are still major challenges to ensuring better performance. Herein, we report the preparation of surface-decorated BiVO₄ with both a noble metal (Ag) and transition metal (Fe). The structural, morphological, and semiconducting features of the material were examined employing various techniques (XRD, SEM, UV-DRS, PL, and photoelectrochemical tests). The band gap of surface-modified BiVO₄ is slightly narrower compared to pristine material, which is further validated by HOMO-LUMO gaps obtained through theoretical modeling approaches. The recombination of photogenerated charges was successfully reduced in the case of Ag–Fe–BiVO₄, as proven by lower PL intensity and increased current density. The comparative photocatalytic degradation of the CECs ciprofloxacin (CIP) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was conducted employing pristine BiVO₄ and its two surface-modified analogues (Ag–BiVO₄, and Ag–Fe–BiVO₄) under solar light. Ag–Fe–BiVO₄ was shown to be the most efficient; however, its effectiveness differed depending on CEC type. Under the same process conditions, degradation of CIP reached 93.9%, while PFOA was degraded only partially (22.9%). Full article

The physical workload evaluation of construction activities will help to prevent excess physical fatigue or overexertion. The workload determination involves measuring physiological responses such as oxygen uptake (VO₂) while performing the work. The objective of this study is to develop a procedure for automatic oxygen uptake prediction using the worker’s forearm muscle activity and motion data. The fused IMU and EMG data were analyzed to build a bidirectional long-short-term memory (BiLSTM) model to predict VO₂. The results show a strong correlation between the IMU and EMG features and oxygen uptake (R = 0.90, RMSE = 1.257 mL/kg/min). Moreover, measured (9.18 ± 1.97 mL/kg/min) and predicted (9.22 ± 0.09 mL/kg/min) average oxygen consumption to build one scaffold unit are significantly the same. This study concludes that the fusion of IMU and EMG features resulted in high model performance compared to IMU and EMG alone. The results can facilitate the continuous monitoring of the physiological status of construction workers and early detection of any potential occupational risks. Full article

The optical characteristics of semiconductor’s particles are strongly dependent on physicochemical properties and the reduced size of the system. Decreasing the size of the material causes an increase in the ratio between the number of atoms on the surface and the number of atoms inside the particle, that is, the increase in specific surface area and surface defects. Due to their high surface-area-to-volume ratio and increased number of active sites on the surface, the nanostructured materials with altered optical properties compared to the bulk material are preferable for catalytic reactions. In this study, an ultra-small and very crystalline zircon-nanostructured bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) semiconductor was prepared by ethylene glycol-assisted synthesis. The nanoparticles have a radius between 2 and 8 nm, as shown by TEM images, and a high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area. The optical, structural, microstructural, and photocatalytic properties were examined in detail. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique confirmed the occurrence of Bi, V, and O elements and also found that Bi and V exist in +3 and +5 oxidation states, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was checked using methyl orange (MO) under UV-Vis lighting. The photocatalytic performance was compared to commercial TiO₂ powder. The results showed tetragonal zircon-type nanostructured BiVO₄ as a promising catalyst for rapid removal of pollutants from wastewater. Full article

Hydrogen and oxygen serve as energy carriers that can ease the transition of energy due to their high energy densities. Nonetheless, their production processes entail the development of efficient and low-cost storage and conversion technologies. In this regard, photoelectrocatalysts are materials based on the photoelectronic effect where electrons and holes interact with H₂O, producing H₂ and O_2, and in some cases, this is achieved with acceptable efficiency. Although there are several reviews on this topic, most of them focus on traditional semiconductors, such as TiO₂ and ZnO, neglecting others, such as those based on non-noble metals and organic ones. Herein, semiconductors like CdSe, NiWO₄, Fe₂O₃, and others have been investigated and compared in terms of photocurrent density, band gap, and charge transfer resistance. In addition, this brief review aims to discuss the mechanisms of overall water-splitting reactions from a photonic point of view and subsequently discusses the engineering of material synthesis. Advanced composites are also addressed, such as WO₃/BiVO₄/Cu₂O and CN-FeNiOOH-CoOOH, which demonstrate high efficiency by delivering photocurrent densities of 5 mAcm⁻² and 3.5 mA cm⁻² at 1.23 vs. RHE, respectively. Finally, the authors offer their perspectives and list the main challenges based on their experience in developing semiconductor-based materials applied in several fields. In this manner, this brief review provides the main advances in these topics, used as references for new directions in designing active materials for photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. Full article

The urgent need for sustainable CO₂ conversion technologies has driven the development of advanced photocatalysts that harness solar energy. This study employs a CTAB-assisted solvothermal method to fabricate a Z-scheme heterojunction Fe-MOFs/V_O-Bi₂WO₆ (FM/V_O-BWO) for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) was employed to confirm the existence of oxygen vacancies, while spherical aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope (STEM) characterization verified the successful construction of heterointerfaces. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectra confirmed that the defect configuration and heterostructure changed the surface chemical valence state. The optimized 1.0FM/V_O-BWO composite demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic performance, achieving CO and CH₄ yields of 60.48 and 4.3 μmol/g, respectively, under visible-light 11.8- and 1.5-fold enhancements over pristine Bi₂WO₆. The enhanced performance is attributed to oxygen vacancy-induced active sites facilitating CO₂ adsorption/activation. In situ molecular spectroscopy confirmed the formation of critical CO₂-derived intermediates (COOH* and CHO*) through surface interactions involving four-coordinated and two-coordinated hydrogen-bonded water molecules. Furthermore, the accelerated interfacial charge transfer efficiency mediated by the Z-scheme heterojunction has been conclusively demonstrated. This work establishes a paradigm for defect-mediated heterojunction design, offering a sustainable route for solar fuel production. Full article

Organic pollutants present a substantial risk to both ecological systems and human well-being. Activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) have emerged as an effective strategy for the degradation of organic pollutants. Bi-based heterojunction is commonly used as a photocatalyst for reductively activating PMS, but single-component Bi-based heterojunction frequently underperforms due to its restricted absorption spectrum and rapid combination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Herein, BiVO₄ was selected as the oxidative semiconductor to form an S-type heterojunction with CuBi₂O₄—x-CuBi₂O₄/BiVO₄ (x = 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8) for PMS photoactivation. The built-in electric field (BEF) in x-CuBi₂O₄/BiVO₄ promoted electron transfer to effectively activate PMS. The x-CuBi₂O₄/BiVO₄ heterojunctions also demonstrate stronger adsorption of the polar PMS than pure CuBi₂O₄ or BiVO₄. In addition, the BEF prompts photoelectrons able to reduce O₂ to •O₂⁻ and photogenerated holes in the valence band of BiVO₄ able to oxidize H₂O to generate •OH. Therefore, under visible light irradiation, 95.1% of ciprofloxacin (CIP) can be degraded. The 0.5-CuBi₂O₄/BiVO₄ demonstrated the best degradation efficiency and excellent stability in cyclic tests, as well as a broad applicability in degrading other common pollutants. The present work demonstrates the high-efficiency S-type heterojunctions in the coupled photocatalytic and PMS activation technology. Full article

Defects and heteroatom doping are two refined microstructural factors that significantly affect the performance of photocatalytic materials. Coupling defect and doping engineering is a powerful approach for designing efficient photocatalysts. In this research, we successfully construct dual defect-engineered BiVO₄ nanosheets (BVO-N-OV) by introducing N doping and oxygen vacancies through ammonium oxalate-assisted thermal treatment of BiVO₄ nanosheets. Due to the combined enhancement of band structure and surface properties from N doping and oxygen vacancies, the obtained BVO-N-OV nanosheets demonstrate improved visible light absorption, effective charge transfer efficiency, and increased active sites. As a result, the constructed BVO-N-OV/PMS system demonstrates significantly enhanced ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal performance under visible light illumination. The highest rate constant for CIP degradation over BVO-N-OV/PMS system is 7.9, 1.9, and 6.6 times greater than pristine BiVO₄ (BVO), oxygen vacancy-enriched BiVO₄ (BVO-OV), and N-doped BiVO₄ (BVO-N), respectively. Even in a broad pH range (3.0–11.0) with various anions, the BVO-N-OV/PMS/Vis system still demonstrates stable and excellent CIP removal performance. This study seeks to provide valuable insights into the interaction between defect and doping engineering in photocatalytic activation of PMS, thereby proposing new strategies for designing effective photocatalyst/PMS systems for wastewater treatment. Full article

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄), a well-known semiconductor photocatalyst with various advantages, has shown great potential in addressing energy and environmental issues. However, its inherent drawbacks restrict the photocatalytic performance of pure BiVO₄. In the past few years, many efforts have been devoted to improving the catalytic activity of BiVO₄ and revealing the degradation mechanism in depth. In this review, we summarized the recent progress on BiVO₄ in the field of photocatalytic degradation, including the strategies which enhance light absorption ability and suppress the recombination of charge carriers of BiVO₄, as well as the related degradation mechanism. Finally, future prospects and challenges are summarized, which may provide new guidelines for designing more effective BiVO₄-based photocatalysts for the degradation of persistent organic pollutants. Full article