Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) makes it possible to obtain insight into the structure, composition and reactivity of photocatalysts, which are of fundamental interest for sustainable energy research. Such insight can be used for further material optimization. Here, we combine conventional TEM analysis of photocatalysts with environmental TEM (ETEM) and photoactivation using light. Two n...

Low-temperature Bi-Nb-O system photocatalysts were prepared by a citrate method using homemade water-soluble niobium precursors. The structures, morphologies, and optical properties of Bi-Nb-O system photocatalysts with different compositions were investigated deeply. All the Bi-Nb-O powders exhibit appreciably much higher photocatalytic efficiency of photo-degradation of methyl violet (MV), es...

Composite TiO2/activated carbon (TiO2/AC) and TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts with TiO2 contents in the 10 to 80 wt. % range were synthesized by the TiOSO4 thermal hydrolysis method and characterized by AES, BET, X-ray diffraction and FT-IR ATR methods. All TiO2 samples were in the anatase form, with a primary crystallite size of about 11 nm. The photocatalytic activities of the TiO2/AC and TiO2/SiO2 ...

In recent years, the increasing level of CO₂ in the atmosphere has not only contributed to global warming but has also triggered considerable interest in photocatalytic reduction of CO₂. The reduction of CO₂ with H₂O using sunlight is an innovative way to solve the current growing environmental challenges. This paper reviews the basic principles of photocatalysis and photocatalytic CO₂ reductio...

We report an effect involving hydrogen (H2)-plasma-treated nanoporous TiO2(H-TiO2) photocatalysts that improve photocatalytic performance under solar-light illumination. H-TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by application of hydrogen plasma of assynthesized TiO2(a-TiO2) without annealing process. Compared with the a-TiO2, the H-TiO2 exhibited high anatase/brookite bicrystallinity and a porous st...

Renewable hydrogen production is a sustainable method for the development of next-generation energy technologies. Utilising solar energy and photocatalysts to split water is an ideal method to produce hydrogen. In this review, the fundamental principles and recent progress of hydrogen production by artificial photosynthesis are reviewed, focusing on hydrogen production from photocatalytic water...

In this review, we provide an overview of recent progress in nanocarbons with different dimensions as noble-metal-free co-catalysts for photocatalysts. We put emphasis on the interface engineering between nanocarbon co-catalysts and various semiconductor photocatalysts and the novel properties generating of nanocarbon co-catalysts, also including the synthesis and application of nanocarbon-base...

Co and Ni-nanoclusters are attractive alternatives to Pt catalysts for hydrogen generation. These earth abundant elements when loaded onto the TiO(2) nanopowders surface act as efficient co-catalysts. Co, Ni-decorated TiO(2) photocatalysts display only three (3) times lower catalytic activities for H(2) evolution under UV illumination compared with Pt-decorated TiO(2) photocatalysts.

Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to formaldehyde was investigated on four semiconductor photocatalysts (FeS, FeS/FeS2, NiO and TiO2). The reaction was carried out in continues flow of CO2 gas bubbled into the reactor. Semiconductor photocatalysts were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopic (DRS) methods. Sulfide ion was used as hole scavenger. T...

A series of visible light responsive nanorods of InGaZn mixed oxide photocatalyst are designed by varying the concentration of In(NO(3))(3)via a solid state reaction method without the need for a surfactant or template. The photocatalysts are characterized by XRD, diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectra, TEM, BET surface area analysis, PL, and photoelectrochemical measurement. Increasing the concent...