Search

[Display omitted] • The feasibility of a commercial air purifier (AP)-based filtration system was assessed. • Removal kinetics of formaldehyde was monitored using a near real-time sensor. • The photocatalytic performance of AP was compared between formulated and commercial filters. • Faster decrease in formaldehyde concentration was observed with adsorption/catalytic dual system. • Clean air delivery rate was used as a key metrics for performance evaluation. The practical utility of an air purifier (AP) with built-in adsorbent/catalyst-based filtration systems is assessed for the treatment of indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through extrapolation of its performance based on a lab-scale chamber study. The feasibility of a commercial prototype AP unit with TiO 2 -based filters is tested in this work against 0.5–5 ppm formaldehyde (FA) in a 17 L chamber with an air recirculation rate of 565 h−1 under the control of key process variables (e.g., initial FA concentration, flow rate, and dark/light conditions). The performance of the AP unit is evaluated by the clean air delivery rate (CADR), quantum yield, and space time yield in diverse operation settings (e.g., photocatalysis only or along with adsorption). The effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation are evident as the CADR value of 5 ppm FA sharply increases from 5.67 (UV-off) to 15 L/min (UV-on): however, the CADR values increase only slightly (12 to 15 L/min) as the recirculation flow rate changes from 100 to 160 L/min, respectively. Further, FA concentration vs. time relationship exhibit an apparent bimodal exponential decay, with the fastest and near 100 % removal at [FA] < 0.5 ppm. The performance of the proposed AP platform in relatively large real-world volume (e.g., 4 m3, 2.4 h−1 air recirculation rate) is further estimated through extrapolation to offer valuable guidelines for the construction of AP systems in real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • TiO 2 is an excellent photoelectrode for light-energy conversion. • The effect of crystallinity on photoelectrochemical behavior is investigated. • The surface defects in polycrystalline TiO 2 act as recombination centers. • The surface trap states lead to an anomalous hole transfer mechanism in TiO 2. Integrating aminoxyl radical mediators (ARMs) with titanium dioxide (TiO 2) based photoelectrochemical (PEC) processes presents a promising approach for achieving mild and sustainable chemical transformations. However, a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between ARMs and PEC processes remains elusive. This study investigates the PEC behavior of photoelectrodes fabricated from single- and polycrystalline TiO 2 in the presence of a representative ARM, 4-acetamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl radical, in acetonitrile. Interestingly, we observe contrasting PEC behavior: photocurrent enhancement for single-crystalline TiO 2 and photocurrent suppression for polycrystalline TiO 2. We attribute this difference to subtle variations in surface properties arising from the material's crystallinity. Photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy (PEIS) is employed to gain deeper insights into the influence of surface defects on charge transfer and recombination mechanisms. The PEIS results suggest that an anomalous hole transfer mechanism mediated by surface trap states governs the PEC performance of polycrystalline TiO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TiO 2 /CN heterojunction is successfully prepared via one-step calcination with bubble template assisted. • The LiAlH 4 -7 wt% TiO 2 /CN starts to release hydrogen at 76 °C and releases 4.9 wt% H 2 at 120 °C within 50 min. • The heterojunction can generate internal electric field and lower the energy barrier to optimize the movement of electrons. • The in situ formed AlTi 3 N can weaken the Al-H bonds in LiAlH 4 through interfacial charge transfer. Herein, a novel TiO 2 /CN heterojunction material has been prepared by one-step bubble template-assisted calcination to enhance the hydrogen storage capability of LiAlH 4. The TEM, XPS and UPS analysis confirm that a heterostructure is formed between TiO 2 and g-C 3 N 4 successfully. The experimental findings indicate that the TiO 2 /CN significantly enhances the dehydrogenation performance of LiAlH 4. For instance, the LiAlH 4 -7 wt% TiO 2 /CN starts to dehydrogenize at 76 °C (94 °C less than pure LiAlH 4) and releases 6.5 wt% H 2 at 200 °C. Meanwhile, LiAlH 4 -7 wt% TiO 2 /CN releases 4.9 wt% H 2 at 120 °C within 50 min. The mechanism analysis illustrates that AlTi 3 N is formed in situ during ball-milling. And density functional theory (DFT) calculation results reveal that the AlTi 3 N can weaken the Al-H bonds in LiAlH 4 through interfacial charge transfer. Furthermore, the TiO 2 /CN heterostructure creates an internal electric field that generates an electron-rich layer. As a result, the negative electron layer at one end of the TiO 2 /CN heterojunction has an increased affinity for H, which enhances the dehydrogenation reaction of LiAlH 4. Clearly, both the TiO 2 /CN heterostructure and AlTi 3 N contribute to the improvement of the dehydrogenation properties of LiAlH 4. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• WSe 2 /SnSe 2 TFET with TiO 2 dielectric exhibits on-state current of 1560 μA/μm. • High- k gate dielectric materials lead to a decline in tunneling length. • The underlap structure leads to a reduction in on-state current. • Combination of heterostructures with high- k gate dielectric materials is an effective way of improving TFET performance. Combining two-dimensional materials and high- k gate dielectrics offers a promising way to enhance the device performance of tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET). In this work, the device performance of WSe 2 /SnSe 2 TFET with various gate dielectric materials is investigated based on quantum transport simulation. Results show that TFETs with high- k gate dielectric materials exhibit improved on-off ratio and enhanced transconductance. The optimized WSe 2 /SnSe 2 TFET with TiO 2 gate dielectrics achieves an on-state current of 1560 μA/μm and a subthreshold swing (SS) of 48 mV/dec. The utilization of high- k gate dielectric materials results in shorter tunneling length, higher transmission efficiency, and increased electron tunneling probability. The performance of the WSe 2 /SnSe 2 TFET would be affected by the presence of the underlap region. Moreover, WSe 2 /SnSe 2 TFETs with La 2 O 3 dielectric can be scaled down to 3 nm while meeting high-performance (HP) device requirements according to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS). This research presents a practical solution for designing advanced logic devices in the sub-5 nm technology node. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article from the Artist's Magazine discusses the idea that painting is a language, with a message and a presentation. The artist, EC (Casey) Baugh, emphasizes the importance of light in painting and compares it to other forms of artistic expression. Baugh's workshops focus on encouraging artists to be fearless and authentic in their work. The article also provides insights into Baugh's creative process and techniques. [Extracted from the article]

• TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /ZnS was synthesized by hydrothermal and self-assembly methods. • TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /ZnS exhibited an excellent photocatalytic TC degradation efficiency (97.1 %) in 60 min. • The band structure and density of states of the catalysts were investigated using DFT. • Ti 3 C 2 MXene provided a pathway for transferring photogenerated electrons. Developing innovative photocatalysts for the efficient degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants is crucial in environmental remediation. In this study, we investigate the synthesis of TiO 2 nanosheets derived from MXene, specifically integrated onto highly conductive Ti 3 C 2 MXene, and subsequently combined with zinc sulfide (ZnS) to form a heterojunction. This integration process is accomplished using a hydrothermal approach followed by a self-assembly method. We aim to assess the effectiveness of this integrated system in enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 (TT) synthesized in situ exhibits high-energy lattice facets (001) of TiO 2 nanosheets, thereby contributing to an exclusive heterojunction within the TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /ZnS (ZTT) heterostructure. The loading of ZnS nanoparticles significantly increases the surface area with a narrow band gap, enhancing the potential for light emission within the visible region. Consequently, ZnS synergistically affects the ZTT x (where x = wt% of ZnS on TT) heterostructure matrix, notably promoting the separation and transfer abilities of the photogenerated carriers. The ZTT5 heterostructure exhibits remarkable adsorption and photoreduction efficiencies, achieving a 97.1 % TC removal in 60 min under UV light. Moreover, under simulated solar light, the ZTT5 heterostructure exhibits an impressive TC removal rate of ∼93.8 % in 90 min. These results highlight the effective performance of the ZTT5 heterojunction catalyst in facilitating photogenerated charge carriers, leading to improved photocatalytic capabilities. Furthermore, the band structure and density of states of TiO 2 (101), Ti 3 C 2 (002), and ZnS (111) were investigated using density functional theory. In addition, a photoreduction mechanism was proposed for TC, involving the transfer of electrons from TiO 2 to the MXene surface. After the transfer, the electrons react with O 2 to generate •O 2 −, attributed to the high electron mobility of MXene. The results of this study emphasize the significant potential of the ZTT5 heterostructure for efficiently degrading pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater. A novel TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /ZnS heterojunction with excellent photocatalytic tetracycline degradation [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The luminescence performance of perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) glass greatly improved by promoting QDs nucleation. • The mechanism of nucleation exhibited by titanium dioxide is clearly discussed. • The densification of the glass network induced by titanium dioxide doping further enhances the stability of PQDs glass. • The titanium dioxide doping strategy has universality in enhancing the luminescence performance of CsPb X 3 (X = Cl, Br, I) QDs glass. • The LED devices based on PQDs glass exhibit an ultra-wide color gamut. Stability hinders further development of all-inorganic CsPb X 3 (X = Cl, Br, I) quantum dots (QDs) although they exhibit promising prospects in optoelectronic applications. Coating perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) with a glass network to form QD glass can significantly improve their stability. However, the dense glass network degrades their luminescent performance. In this work, the crystallization behavior of PQDs in glass and better luminescence properties are prompted by introducing titanium dioxide into borosilicate glass. The luminescence intensity of TiO 2 -doped CsPbBr 3 QD glass is increased by 1.6 times and the PLQY is increased from 49.8 % to 79 % compared to the undoped glass. Evidence proves that the improved properties are attributed to the enhanced nucleation effect of titanium dioxide during the annealing process. Benefiting from the densification of the glass network caused by titanium dioxide doping, the stability of the PQD glass is further improved. LED devices with an ultra-wide color gamut that fully covers the NTSC1953 standard and achieves 128.6 % of the NTSC1953 standard as well as 91.1 % of the Rec.2020 standard were fabricated by coupling PQD glass powder, demonstrating promising commercial applications of PQD glass in optoelectronic displays. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High porosity and high brittleness are the main reasons that limit the long-term service life of the alumina-titanium oxide composite coating. Herein, a metastable nanostructured alumina-titanium oxide composite coating with high density and high properties was synthesized by plasma spraying of TiO 2 -Al composite powder. The main phases of the metastable nanostructured alumina-titanium oxide were γ-Al 2 O 3 , TiO and AlTiO 2. The coating, as prepared, contains various metastable microstructures, such as fine-grained, intra-/inter-granular, and "self-locking" microstructures. These metastable microstructures are important for the improvement of hardness and toughness of the coating. Compared with other alumina-based composite coatings, the metastable nanostructured alumina-titanium oxide composite coating showed the most impressive overall performance. The reinforcing and toughening mechanism of the metastable alumina-titanium oxide composite coating included fine grain strengthening and self-toughening of the metastable microstructure. Comparison of porosity, hardness and toughness between the metastable alumina-titanium oxide coating and other similar coatings: (a) Comparison of porosity and hardness; (b) Comparison of hardness and toughness [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS) is a high-efficiency erosion inhibitor for gun propellants. • The erosion reduction efficiency of OPS is twice as high as that of TiO 2 or talc. • In the same proportion, OPS shows a minimal loss of gun propellant fire force than TiO 2 or talc. • The OPS reduces the flame temperature of the gun propellant. • The decomposed nano-SiO 2 protective layer hinders heat transfer and gas erosion. Low erosion high-energy propellant is one of the research directions to extend the weapon's life and improve the weapon's capability. In this study, energetic propellants containing different corrosion inhibitors were designed and prepared. Close bomb tests and semi-confined bomb experiments were used to investigate the burning and erosion properties of the propellants. The mechanism of erosion-reducing of titanium dioxide (titania, TiO 2), talc, and octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS) on the propellant was comparatively analyzed. The results show that OPS has the lowest burning rate and the longest burning time, and a minimized loss of fire force, with the best effect of explosion heat reduction. The erosion reduction efficiency of OPS is twice that of TiO 2 and talc. The mechanism analysis shows that the decomposition and heat absorption of OPS can effectively reduce the thermal erosion effect and carbon erosion, and the gas produced can reduce the loss of chamber pressure and form a uniformly distributed nano-SiO 2 protective layer. This solid-state high-efficiency organosilicon erosion inhibitor is an important guide for designing high-energy low-erosion gun propellants. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The lattice strain of Pt 3 Ti shells be tailored by its thickness at atomic scale. • 1-atomic layer Pt 3 Ti on Pt NPs achieves suitable adsorption to ORR intermediates. • The core-shell structure and TiO 2 -C enhance the stability of the catalyst. • The core-shell interaction boosts the activity of Pt 3 Ti. The exploitation of durable and highly active Pt-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is essential for the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Herein, we designed Pt@Pt 3 Ti core-shell nanoparticles with atomic-controllable shells through precise thermal diffusing Ti into Pt nanoparticles for effective and durable ORR. Combining theoretical and experiment analysis, we found that the lattice strain of Pt 3 Ti shells can be tailored by precisely controlling the thickness of Pt 3 Ti shell in atomic-scale on account of the lattice constant difference between Pt and Pt 3 Ti to optimize adsorption properties of Pt 3 Ti for ORR intermediates, thus enhancing its performance. The Pt@Pt 3 Ti catalyst with one-atomic Pt 3 Ti shell (Pt@1L-Pt 3 Ti/TiO 2 -C) demonstrates excellent performance with mass activity of 592 mA mg Pt −1 and durability nearly 19.5-fold that of commercial Pt/C with negligible decay (2 %) after 30,000 potential cycles (0.6–1.0 V vs. RHE). Notably, at higher potential cycles (1.0 V-1.5 V vs. RHE), Pt@1L-Pt 3 Ti/TiO 2 -C also showed far superior durability than Pt/C (9.6 % decayed while 54.8 % for commercial Pt/C). This excellent stability is derived from the intrinsic stability of Pt 3 Ti alloy and the confinement effect of TiO 2 -C. The catalyst's enhancement was further confirmed in PEMFC configuration. [Display omitted] We designed a special Pt@Pt 3 Ti core-shell catalyst, and precisely controlled the Pt 3 Ti shell' thickness at the atomic-scale to tailor its lattice compressive strain, thus optimizing the adsorption properties of Pt 3 Ti shell to ORR intermediates, and enhancing the catalyst's ORR performance. When the shell consists of mono-layer Pt 3 Ti, the compressive strain of Pt 3 Ti shell is appropriate to achieve an excellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The in situ preparation of Zr(Ti)-mofs film on Ti-6Al-4 V (TC4) alloy was realized by a one-step hydrothermal reaction. • ZrCl 4 attacked and dissolved the TiO 2 film to form Zr-O-Ti bonds on the TC4 surface, which provided nucleation sites for the subsequent formation of Zr (Ti)-MOFs on TC4. • The dissolved Ti4+ ions from TC4 substrate participated in the in-situ formation of Zr(Ti)-mofs on TC4, helping the reaction to complete at 80 °C and atmospheric pressure. Preparing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) film in situ on the surface of the Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) titanium alloy is challenging owing to the dense and stable surface TiO 2 passive film. In this study, titanium-doped zirconium-based MOFs (Zr(Ti)-MOFs) film was constructed in situ on the TC4 alloy in one step at a low temperature and atmospheric pressure, with ZrCl 4 as the source of Zr metal ions. ZrCl 4 attacked and dissolved the TiO 2 film to form Zr-O-Ti bonds on the surface of TC4 to provide nucleation sites for further reactions. At the same time, Zr4+ and dissolved Ti4+ combined in solution to form Ti containing Zr-O cluster nodes, which aggregated and grafted to the Zr-O-Ti bonds on the substrate surface, and reacted with organic ligands (terephthalic acid) to form Zr(Ti)-MOFs film. The Ti4+ dissolved from the TC4 participate in the Zr-MOFs formation, thereby changing the high temperature and high-pressure conditions required for the traditional preparation of Zr-MOFs (UiO-66). The in situ preparation of Zr(Ti)-MOFs on TC4 was achieved at 80 °C under atmospheric pressure conditions. This study elucidated the growth mechanism of Zr(Ti)-MOFs on the TC4 surface, providing a reference for the design and In-situ preparation of multifunctional MOFs on the TC4 titanium alloy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries represent a promising energy storage system with the potential to replace traditional lithium-ion batteries. Recent research has explored the practical applications of Li–S batteries. However, due to the insulation properties of the sulfur components and the shuttle effect of polysulfides, the practical application of Li–S batteries is hindered by poor cycle stability and short life. In this study, we developed a controllable three-dimensional Ti 3 C 2 structure design process, and through in situ growth of TiO 2 nanocrystals, we prepared three-dimensional porous materials with TiO 2 @Ti 3 C 2 heterostructures. These materials constructed using two-dimensional lamellar Ti 3 C 2 function as a conductive skeleton to improve the conductivity of the sulfur cathodes, and through the in-situ growth of nano-TiO 2 to introduce more binding sites and provide more chemisorption sites to limit the dissolution and shuttle of polysulfides. In addition, the TiO 2 @Ti 3 C 2 heterointerface generated in situ on the surface of the lamellar structure can induce an internal electric field and increase active reaction sites, which promotes reaction kinetics, accelerates charge diffusion/transport, and promotes LiPS transformation. The materials designed in this study can effectively restrain the shuttle effect by realising the association process of adsorption, capture, and transformation of polysulfides. Thus, when applied as the sulfur cathode frame, it shows a high specific capacity of 1261.41 mAh g−1 at a rate of 0.1 C. In addition, a specific capacity of 66.5 % is maintained over 500 cycles at a rate of 1 C. This strategy supports the development of Li–S batteries with extraordinary performance and opens up a promising way to design next-generation electrochemical energy storage devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The TiO 2 /Bi 2 S 3 S-scheme heterojunction is prepared by hydrothermal method. • The TiO 2 /Bi 2 S 3 hybrid showed wide spectrum response and good photothermal effect. • An improved CO 2 photoreduction performance was achieved by the hybrid. • DFT calculation and in-situ characterization were used to clarify the mechanism. The combination of S-scheme heterojunction and photothermal effect is a promising strategy to achieve efficient CO 2 photoreduction into solar fuel due to the boosted charge carrier separation efficiency and faster surface reaction rate. Herein, unique photothermal-coupled TiO 2 /Bi 2 S 3 S-scheme heterojunction nanofibers were fabricated and applied to a full-spectrum CO 2 photoreduction system. Density functional theory calculation and experimental analyses have confirmed the generation of the internal electric field and the S-scheme electron transfer pathway, leading to a highly efficient charge carrier separation. Thanks to the excellent photothermal conversion capacity of Bi 2 S 3 , the photogenerated electron transfer rate, and surface reaction rate were further accelerated in hybrid photocatalysts. Under the synergistic effect of S-scheme heterojunction and photothermal effects, the optimal TiO 2 /Bi 2 S 3 nanofibers achieved 7.65 μmol h–1 of CH 4 production rate, which is 5.24 times higher than that of pristine TiO 2. Moreover, the morphology reconstruction of Bi 2 S 3 in hybrids facilitates the CH 4 selectivity was significantly improved from 64.2% to 88.7%. Meanwhile, the CO 2 photoreduction reaction route over TiO 2 /Bi 2 S 3 nanofibers was investigated based on in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectra. This work provides some useful hints for designing highly efficient photothermal-coupled photocatalysts for CO 2 photoreduction. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A dual-functional TiO 2 /CdZnS/ZnS heterojunction photoanode is fabricated. • The TiO 2 /CdZnS/ZnS photoelectrodes show desirable PECCP and anti-biofouling performance. • The synergistic mechanism of PECCP and anti-biofouling is proposed. The low photoelectric conversion efficiency of photoelectrode is an important factor that limits the application in photoelectrochemical cathodic protection (PECCP) field for marine anti-corrosion of metallic structures. In this work, a photoelectrode of TiO 2 /CdZnS/ZnS triple-phase heterojunction was fabricated by loading the narrow-band CdZnS associated with the broad-band ZnS via hydrothermal and continuous ion layer adsorption methods, respectively. The composite of CdZnS enhances the photoelectric conversion ability of TiO 2 , while the ZnS composite can prevent the CdZnS from photo-corrosion and suppress the spillover of the photogenerated electrons. The three-phase heterostructure effectively improves the PECCP performance on 316 L stainless steel (SS) under simulated solar irradiation, especially in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution without the sacrificial agent. In addition, the prepared TiO 2 /CdZnS/ZnS photoelectrode also performs anti-biofouling effect evidenced by the high removal efficiency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), which can be attributed to the oxidizability of photogenerated holes. The TiO 2 /CdZnS/ZnS triple-phase heterojunction with desirable performance is a promising semiconductor material for the applications of PECCP and anti-biofouling. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tri-layer nanofiber membranes of (PAN with CuO/TiO 2 nanowires)/(PVDF-HFP and PMMA)/(PAN with CuO/TiO 2 nanowires) were fabricated through electrospinning. • Amorphous PMMA reduced the crystallinity of PVDF-HFP. • CuO/TiO 2 nanowires improved the Li+ ionic conductivity of the nanofiber membrane to 2.91 mS/cm. • Optimized TPPCT 5 membrane separator indicated an 87 % capacity retention after 400 cycles. The tri-layer nanofiber membranes of (PAN containing CuO/TiO 2 nanowires) / (PVDF-HFP + PMMA) / (PAN containing CuO/TiO 2 nanowires) as separator in lithium-ion battery were manufactured by electrospinning technique. PVDF-HFP with excellent mechanical properties hinders the mobility of lithium ions because of its high crystallinity. By blending the amorphous PMMA polymer with PVDF-HFP, the crystallinity of PVDF-HFP + PMMA composite nanofiber was lowered, while high mechanical strength was maintained due to the dipole–dipole interaction between two polymers. The (PVDF-HFP + PMMA) nanofiber membrane was employed as the middle layer. The PAN nanofiber membranes containing CuO/TiO 2 nanowires were prepared as top and bottom layers. The electrochemical properties and performance of the manufactured tri-layer membrane were evaluated, and it showed superior performance than polyolefin-based membranes. The tri-layer membrane maintained stable voltage changes for 700 h during galvanostatic cycling. Furthermore, it exhibited excellent performance in terms of rate capability and life cycle performance. The PE separator maintained a capacity retention of 67 % after 400 cycles, while the tri-layer membrane separator showed a capacity retention of 87 %. These results suggest the potential utility of tri-layer membrane separators as high-performance separators required in the lithium-ion battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Au-Ti 3 C 2 MXene was stepwise oxidized by CO 2 and air to derive carbon-bridged Au-TiO 2. • The in situ loaded Au on the Ti 3 C 2 surface could accelerate its oxidation into C-TiO 2. • The Au/C-TiO 2 photocatalyst exhibited dramatically improved H 2 evolution activity. • The carbon extended the distance between the semiconductor and H 2 -evolution sites. • Compared with Au-TiO 2 , the Au/C-TiO 2 exhibited 27 times higher photoactivity. Photogenerated charge separation is a challenging step in semiconductor-based photosynthesis. Though numerous efforts have been devoted to developing multi-component photocatalyst heterostructures for improving charge separation efficiency, the short distance between electrons and holes-aggregated regions still leads to undesirable charge recombination. Herein, a facile and commercial in-situ synthesis method was designed to directly prepare a three-component Au–carbon–TiO 2 photocatalyst from Ti 3 C 2 MXene, air, CO 2 , and HAuCl 4 , in which the carbon layer bridged Au and TiO 2 nanoparticles for stable and efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. Kelvin probe measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that a multi-interfacial charge transmission network was successfully constructed to achieve a directional and long-distance spatial charge separation/transfer channel between TiO 2 and Au through carbon layer, desirably inhibiting the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. The hydrogen production rate of the formed three-component Au/C–TiO 2 (CTA) photocatalyst was demonstrated to be 27 times higher than that of Au–TiO 2 , which also surpassed many reported Ti 3 C 2 MXene-derived carbon–TiO 2 photocatalysts. This work sheds light on the ingenious use of 2D MXene to form a well-behaved TiO 2 -based photocatalytic system and helps to propose future design principles in accelerating charge transfer. The carbon layer bridged Au and TiO2 to achieve a directional and long-distance charge separation/transfer channel for photocatalytic hydrogen production. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper and inadequate treatment of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) is currently a serious environmental problem, while photocatalysis is a rapidly developed and highly efficient treatment for PPCPs wastewater. A novel biochar-doped TiO 2 photocatalyst (BC-Ti) prepared by the sol–gel method had exceptional activity and high photocatalytic performance on abidol (ABD) removal. The removal capacity of arbidol on the synthesized photocatalyst was up to 76 % shortly after 20 min UV lighting, which was 8 % and 52 % higher than that on commercial TiO 2 and biochar, respectively (50 mg/L photocatalyst, pH = 6.77, ABD concentration = 20 mg/L). ABD removal rate increased continuously and could be over 90 % after 5 h irradiation. This reaction was well fitted to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) kinetics model. The excellent reusability and stability were verified through six recycling experiments (only ca. 6 % removal reduction compared to the original one), which proved the economic viability of the catalyst. The analysis of SEM-EDS, BET, XRD, EIS, UV–vis DRS and PL verified an efficient biochar doping on the produced TiO 2 and provided an explanation for the excellent photocatalytic performance of BC-Ti. ⋅O 2 – was proved to play important role on ABD removal through trapping test. The inferred structures of photocatalysis products and probable degradation pathways of arbidol were also analyzed via LC-MS and TOC which indicated a successful ABD decomposition. Partial ABD was converted into mineralized carbon (CO 2) and the remaining photocatalysis products in solution were small molecule substances with low toxicity. This work paves the way for development a novel carbon-based photocatalyst and is conducive to PPCPs wastewater purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Photocatalytic water splitting using solar radiation has drawn considerable attention for production of hydrogen because of minimal carbon emissions, however huge limitations that still exist are low light harnessing catalysts and high recombination rate of the photo-generated charge carriers. This study focuses on the fabrication of nanomaterials for advanced photocatalytic water splitting as a result, structures of TiO 2 /CNFs, Cu/TiO 2 /CNFs, and Zn/TiO 2 /CNFs nanocomposites of mesoporous nature were synthesized using CNFs and surfactant wrapping sol–gel/hydrothermal method. Impregnation technique was used in copper and zinc loading while characterization of the synthesized catalysts was achieved by XRD, Raman, FESEM, TEM, UV/DRS, BET, FTIR, XPS, and PL techniques. Water splitting was performed by UV light irradiation and the effect of compositing TiO 2 /CNFs-Cu/Zn evaluated. 10 %_TiO 2 /CNFs/5%Zn composite was the most efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen production when compared with the rest of the samples. 10 %_TiO 2 /CNFs/5%Zn, 0.53 mol (h g cat.)-1, was 90–100 folds the amount generated over commercial TiO 2 – P25, and pure TiO 2 photocatalysts. The improved photo-activity of the TiO 2 /CNFs, Cu/TiO 2 /CNFs, and Zn/ TiO 2 /CNFs composites were due to the synergistic effect between Cu, Zn and CNFs. This work gives promising route for fabricating TiO 2 /CNFs/metal (Cu, Zn) composites for advanced H 2 production using UV-radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NH 2 -MIL-53(Al) functionalized TiO 2 nanotube photoanodes were prepared. • The photoanodes showed superior photoelectrochemical and PECCP performances. • Achieved 1.98 mA cm−2 photocurrent density under visible light irradiation. • Photo-induced OCP remained relatively stable within 35 h of light illumination. • A Z -scheme heterojunction between NH 2 -MIL-53(Al) and TiO 2 was verified. Metal-organic framework [MOF, i.e., NH 2 -MIL-53(Al)] modified TiO 2 (NMT) composite photoanodes were successfully prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and were used for the photoelectrochemical cathodic protection (PECCP) of nickel-plated magnesium alloy (Mg/Ni). Results showed that the synthesis temperature significantly impacted the morphology and PECCP performance of the NMT photoanodes. The NMT@150 photoanode prepared at a reaction temperature of 150 °C exhibited the best PECCP performance and produced a current density of 1980 μA cm−2 under visible light irradiation, which was 19.8 times higher than that of a single TiO 2 photoanode. The composite photoanode could polarize the open circuit potential of the coupled Mg/Ni electrode to -876 mV and remain relatively stable within 35 h. XPS and EPR tests showed that a Z -scheme heterojunction was formed between the NH 2 -MIL-53(Al) and TiO 2 nanotubes, allowing the photogenerated electrons to accumulate mainly on the conduction band of NH 2 -MIL-53(Al). The heterojunction greatly promoted the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole in the NMT composite photoanode, significantly enhancing the PECCP performance for Mg/Ni. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BiOBr-TiO 2 composites were used for xanthates degradation. • The photocatalytic degradation of xanthates under visible light was studied. • The composites had excellent degradation effects for different xanthates. • Possible degradation pathways and mechanisms were provided. BiOBr-TiO 2 (BT) composite photocatalysts were synthesized by using a two-step method including hydrothermal synthesis and water-bath precipitation. The microstructural characterization analysis proved that high-crystallinity and high-purity binary BT materials were achieved without by-products. TiO 2 nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately 15 nm were decorated on multi-layered BiOBr nanosheets. The results showed that BT had highly-improved adsorption capacity and photocatalytic efficiency in comparison to pristine BiOBr and TiO 2. The reaction rate constant of the optimal BT-2 composite photocatalysts for the degradation of 20 mg/L sodium ethyl-xanthate could reach 0.06496 min−1, which was 2.7 and 40.3 times than pure BiOBr and TiO 2 , respectively. The free radical scavenger test demonstrated that photogenerated holes were the main active species in the photocatalytic degradation reaction process. A possible degradation pathway for SEX molecules was provided through the interaction of visible light and BT-2 photocatalyst. The as-prepared BT materials can be used as efficient photocatalysts to completely degrade various types of xanthates under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed dual-functional electrochromic supercapacitors (ECSs) incorporating electrospun TiO 2 nanofibers as an ion storage layer (ISL). The prepared ISL-ECSs exhibit excellent integrated electrochromic performances at low driving voltages due to high visible transparency and energy storage capabilities. This study describes direct electrospinning TiO 2 on an FTO electrode and fabricating asymmetric electrochromic devices with viologen-based ion gel compositions. The electrospinning technique proved suitable for producing oxide nanostructures that facilitate efficient ion transport. The surface morphology of the fabricated nanoweb was analyzed using SEM and AFM images. The electrochromic performances were evaluated through cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical measurements, and charge storage properties were examined by galvanostatic charge–discharge curves. The optimized dual-functional devices demonstrated a large transmittance contrast of up to 87 %, high coloration efficiency of 175.7 cm2/C, areal capacitance of 20.53 mF/cm2, and good charging-discharging cyclic stability. Furthermore, the practical feasibility of the ISL-ECSs was demonstrated by evaluating their ability to serve as a power source for illuminating an LED lamp. The findings suggest the potential application of ISL-ECSs for dual-functional smart windows, in which the color intensity visualizes the real-time energy storage status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Decorating high-dielectric-constant TiO 2 endows cell-membrane-mimic grain boundary design of Ag 2 Se. • Charge carrier/phonon selective permeability is achieved. • The decoupling of electron and phonon transport results in a high zT of 0.97 at 390 K. The coupling of charge carrier and phonon transport limits the application of Ag 2 Se as a low-toxic near-room-temperature thermoelectric material. Strategies that reduce the thermal conductivity via enhancing the phonon scattering usually lead to reduced carrier mobility due to high grain boundary potential barrier. In this study, we developed a cell-membrane-mimic grain boundary engineering strategy for decoupling the charge carrier and phonon scattering through decorating high-dielectric-constant rutile TiO 2 at Ag 2 Se grain boundaries to enable the charge carrier/phonon selective permeability. The nano-sized TiO 2 with high dielectric permittivity can secure the charge carrier transport by shielding the interfacial Coulomb potential to lower the energy barrier of grain boundaries, rendering an enhanced power factor. Additionally, benefited from the enhanced phonon scattering by TiO 2 nanoparticles, a significantly decreased lattice thermal conductivity of ∼0.20 W m−1 K−1 and a high zT of ∼0.97 at 390 K are obtained in the Ag 2 Se-based nanocomposites. This work demonstrates that such cell-membrane-mimic grain boundary engineering strategy may shed light on developing high-performance thermoelectric materials. Synergistic optimization of thermoelectric performance by decoupling electrical and thermal transport through cell-membrane-mimic grain boundary engineering. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The CuO/TiO 2 /N-MWCNTs sensor was prepared by hydrothermal method and calcination. • The CuO/TiO 2 /N-MWCNTs composites sensor has excellent sensing properties towards CO sensing. • The sensor performance for CO gas is further improved by the introduction of N-MWCNTs. The detection of dissolved gases in the oil of oil-immersed transformers is essential to evaluate the operating status of oil-immersed transformers. In this study, a CuO/TiO 2 /N-MWCNTs composites-based sensor was fabricated by hydrothermal method for the detection of dissolved CO gas in oil. The introduction of N-MWCNTs with high specific surface area, high electrical conductivity and multiple adsorption sites effectively improved the response value and response/recovery performance for CO. The response can reach 4.33 at a CO concentration of 50 ppm, which is 1.74 times higher than that of the CuO/TiO 2 sensor. In addition, the prepared sensor presents a fast response/recovery time (230 s/60 s) to CO, and has excellent selectivity and long-term stability. Finally, a multi-concentration CO alarm system was constructed through a reasonable circuit design. It is shown that the CuO/TiO 2 /N-MWCNTs-based sensor can achieve high-precision CO detection, which can provide a new idea for the detection of dissolved CO gas in the oil of oil-immersed transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High grafting degree on PTFE membrane of 8.5% was achieved with 30 wt% acetic acid, which led to 11.32 wt% TiO 2 to be successfully immobilized onto the membrane. • The immobilized PTFE-TiO 2 produced targeted methanol product from photocatalytic CO 2 reduction process in rich amine medium. • Performance is consistent over 5 cycle runs which shows its good reusability. • 4.63 wt% TiO 2 still retained on the membrane after continuous 4 days of leaching test. Slurry photocatalyst reactor is difficult to use on large scale and requires additional process to separate the catalyst. Thus, immobilizing photocatalyst titanium dioxide (TiO 2) onto support ensures that the material would not be flushed away. In this study, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes' surfaces were modified by grafting with carboxylic acid, wherein TiO 2 was subsequently immobilized. High grafting degree of 8.5 % was achieved through wet chemistry method using 30 wt% acetic acid, at 60 °C via immersion for 2 hours. TiO 2 was successfully immobilized onto the membrane (with amount of 11.32 wt%), and its presence was confirmed through FESEM-EDX. The leaching test for the first 24 hours shows less than 10 wt% was leached out; however, 59 % of the TiO 2 had leached out after 4 days of the leaching test. Performance test with immobilized TiO 2 shows methanol was produced from the photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. Additionally, the PTFE-TiO 2 membranes exhibit good reusability even after 5 cycles of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The adhesion of V/N-TiO 2 to the honeycomb ceramics leads to real-time continuous and near-complete photodegradation removal of toluene due to the synergistic effect. • The catalyst shows excellent cyclic stability and can be reused. • The overall performance of this V/N-TiO 2 @HC flow photoreactor is among the highest compared with state-of-the-art technologies. Photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a significant applying aspect of photocatalysis. Both the modulation of photocatalysts and the rational dispersion of them on supports are key for solar-driven VOC degradation. Conventional batch-type photoreactors have low efficiency while continuous-flow photoreactors suffer from the problem of incomplete removal of VOCs. Herein, aiming for continuous and complete degradation of toluene gas as the target contaminant, continuous-flow photocatalytic degradation reactors were made by adhering the vanadium and nitrogen codoped TiO 2 on honeycomb ceramics (V/N-TiO 2 @HC) by a simple sol-gel method. In such a reactor, the rich ordered pores in the HC accelerate mass transport of toluene, and the introduction of V/N dopants narrows the bandgap and widens the light absorption range of TiO 2 , together resulting in continuous and nearly-complete photocatalytic degradation of toluene. The unique and stable structure of HC allows the photocatalysts to be reused. The degradation rate of toluene gas can reach 97.8%, and after 24 rounds of photocatalytic degradation, there is still a degradation rate of 96.7%. The impacts of loading times and gaseous flow rate on the photocatalytic performance of V/N-TiO 2 @HC are studied in detail. Our study provides a practical solution for the continuous and complete photocatalytic degradation of VOCs and opens a new application field for HC. This work reports the continuous-flow photocatalytic degradation reactors using vanadium and nitrogen-codoped TiO 2 coated on honeycomb ceramics (V/N-TiO 2 @HC) by a simple sol-gel method. These reactors effectively degraded toluene gas with a nearly complete degradation rate of 97.8%, providing a practical solution for the volatile organic compounds. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simultaneously reinforcing Cu–H and weakening Ru–H bond in CuRu alloy is realized. • CuRu alloy nanoparticles are deposited on TiO 2 surface by photoreduction method. • CuRu/TiO 2 shows obviously higher H 2 -evolution rate than TiO 2 , Cu/TiO 2 , and Ru/TiO 2. • H-adsorption affinity of CuRu alloy can be self-optimized by the electron transfer. In addition to the electron transfer, the appropriate H-adsorption affinity of active centers on the metal cocatalyst surface is quite important for high hydrogen-production activity of cocatalyst-modified photocatalysts. The typical Cu and Ru metal cocatalysts clearly exhibit a weak Cu–H bond and a strong Ru–H bond, respectively, resulting in limited activity for photocatalytic H 2 evolution. In this work, an ingenious strategy of self-optimized H-adsorption affinity in CuRu alloy cocatalyst is developed to simultaneously reinforce the Cu–H bond and weaken the Ru–H bond by the intrinsic electron transfer from Cu to Ru atom. The CuRu alloy nanoparticles (2–3 nm) were deposited on the TiO 2 surface to prepare CuRu/TiO 2 through a one-step photoreduction method. Photocatalytic tests exhibited that the highest H 2 -production rate of CuRu/TiO 2 photocatalyst reached up to 5.316 mmol h–1 g–1, which was 24.80, 1.86, and 2.60 times higher than that of the TiO 2 , Cu/TiO 2 , and Ru/TiO 2 , respectively. Based on the characterization results and theoretical calculations, the CuRu alloy cocatalyst exhibits excellent self-optimized H-adsorption affinity via the spontaneous electron transfer from Cu to Ru atom, which can greatly accelerate the photocatalytic H 2 -production rate of TiO 2. This work provides a feasible idea for the self-optimized H-adsorption affinity of metal active sites in the photocatalytic H 2 -generation field. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Copolymerized aramid fibers (CAFs) hold considerable promise as high-performance materials because of their mechanical strength and thermal resistance. However, their low ultraviolet (UV) resistance and poor matrix adhesion limit their applications. In this study, a TiO 2 coating is applied to the surfaces of CAFs through a solution-dipping process to enhance their UV resistance and interfacial adhesion. The fibers are dipped in aqueous solutions with varying concentrations of TiCl 3 , serving as a precursor, at temperatures in the range 50–90 °C. Changes over time are observed in the fibers using scanning, the TiO 2 particles grow and completely coat the fiber surfaces. The TiO 2 -coated fibers demonstrate a high UV resistance, as evidenced by the tensile strength retention rate of approximately 80%, which is significantly higher than the 55% retention rate observed for the untreated fibers after 24 h of light irradiation at 600 W. The TiO 2 coating enhances the interfacial strength between the TiO 2 layer and CAF surface through hydrogen and physical bonding. Consequently, the interfacial strength is approximately 2.3 times than that of the untreated fibers. These results emphasize the potential of this simple TiO 2 dip-coating method for various practical applications, particularly in extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel photocatalysis-ElectroFenton system was applied successfully for treatment wastewater. • The optimum conditions were: current density of 15 mA/c m 2 , Fe2+concentration of 0.5 mM, Ti O 2 dosage of 0.7 g/l, and time of 54 min. • A maximum COD removal (RE% = 91.26 %) with lower energy consumption (EECT = 26.86 kWh/ m 3)were achieved. • reaction time was the most effective parameter followed by Ti O 2 dosage, Fe2+ concentration, and current density. • EF + UV/Ti O 2 in comparison with UV/Ti O 2 alone results in an enhancement of 23% in RE% and a reduction by 55% of EECT. In the current study, treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater has been successfully achieved using a novel photocatalysis-ElectroFenton system operated at a batch circulation mode and composed from a tubular electro-Fenton reactor provided with a macro-porous graphite air diffusion cathode (MPGADC) combined with a new configuration of photo reactor. The feasibility of the combined electro-Fenton with photo-catalytic process (EF + UV/ TiO 2) was evaluated using response surface methodology (RSM) with Box-Behnken design (BBD). Titanium dioxide (Anatase) was used as a photo-catalyst and characterized by x-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (BET). Four main operating variables were studied: current density (5–15 mA/cm2, Fe2+concentration (0.1–0.5 mM), TiO 2 dosage (0.1–0.7 g/l), and reaction time (20–60 min). Results revealed that reaction time has the most effective parameter on the EF + UV/ TiO 2 process followed by TiO 2 dosage, Fe2+concentration, and current density. The optimum operating conditions for maximizing COD removal (RE%) and minimizing the total electrical energy consumption (EECT)) were found to be a current density of 15 mA/cm2, Fe2+ concentration of 0.5 mM, TiO 2 dosage of 0.7 g/l, and a reaction time of 54 min in which COD removal of 91.26 % was achieved with claiming EECT of 26.86 kWh/m3. Results revealed a vital improvement of using EF + UV/ TiO 2 in comparison with UV/ TiO 2 alone where an enhancement of 23% in RE% and a reduction by 55% of EECT were observed. Furthermore, a kinetic study was performed for EF + UV/TiO 2 and UV/ TiO 2 alone in which the results revealed that decay of COD obeyed a pseudo-first-order kinetic for the two processes with a high-rate constant for EF + UV/ TiO 2 process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The S-scheme heterojunctions based on different typical photocatalysts are summarized. • Advanced characterization used to directly demonstrate the mechanism of S-scheme heterojunction is comprehensively summarized. • The future challenges and development trends of S-scheme heterojunction in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution are pointed out. As an ideal secondary energy source, hydrogen has the title of clean energy and the product of its complete combustion is only water, which is not polluting to the environment. Photocatalytic hydrogen production technology is an environmentally friendly, safe, and low-cost strategy that requires only an inexhaustible amount of solar energy and water as feedstock. This paper provides a detailed and detailed review of S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production, mainly including TiO 2 -based, Perovskite-based, CdS-based, Graphitic phase carbon nitride-based, COF-based graphdiyne-based, ZnO-based, and ZnIn 2 S 4 -based S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts. The classification of S-scheme heterojunctions is summarized. What's more, various characterizations for direct verification of the charge migration mechanism of S-scheme heterojunctions are outlined. Based on the present study, the future potential challenges and future research trends for S-scheme heterojunctions in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution technology are pointed out, which provides feasible strategies for the development and design of S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]