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TiO2 nanoparticles of the single anatase phase, binary anatase–brookite phases, and ternary anatase–brookite–rutile phases were synthesized using an HNO3-catalyzed hydrothermal process. The types and amounts of phases varied depending on the hydrothermal synthesis conditions. The results revealed that N dissolves in different amounts and chemical states, depending on the phases present and their proportions in the nanoparticles. Brookite and rutile nanoparticles oriented through one direction were found to be crystallized by the surface transformation from anatase. Photocatalytic activity tests, evaluated by degradation of methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light illumination, revealed that the N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles containing a ternary-phase mixture had the best photocatalytic activity. The MB degradation of the visible light–active nanoparticles was three times better than that of a commercially available well-known TiO2 powder, P25 under UV illumination. The enhanced photoactivity was attributed to the following: i) a high surface area, ii) suppression of the recombination of electron–hole pairs with ternary-phase mixture crystallized in heterojunctions, iii) larger anatase phase content, and iv) narrower band gap and facilitation of charge separation by dissolved N atoms.

The objective of this work is to correlate the photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide imazapyr in aqueous suspensions of the commercially available Evonik Aeroxide TiO2 P25 with the dark adsorption phenomena considering both the equilibrium state and the kinetics of adsorption. The results of this study show that the adsorption of imazapyr onto the TiO2 surface is a second-order reaction and satisfies the criteria required by the Langmuir model. The adsorbed amount of imazapyr is found to be high at pH 3 and to decrease with increasing pH. The kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation of imazapyr were analysed taking into account the effect of the pH as well as of the catalyst mass concentration. However, special attention was focussed on the influence of the reactant concentration on the reaction rate. The Langmuir–Hinshelwood model fitting revealed that the apparent adsorption constant obtained under irradiation is significantly larger than the adsorption constant obtained in the dark. The initial reaction rates of the photocatalytic imazapyr degradation were larger than the initial adsorption rates of the probe molecule on the TiO2 surface. It is therefore concluded that the photocatalytic imazapyr degradation does not follow necessarily a Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism despite the fact that a rate law having the mathematical form of the Langmuir–Hinshelwood rate law was successfully used to describe the observed dependence of the initial reaction rates on the initial concentrations. A Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism for the photocatalytic imazapyr degradation is compatible only with the additional assumption that the rate constant of adsorption increases by irradiation with UV light.

International audience; In the current study, an in-situ oxidative polymerization method was used to synthesize polyaniline-coated tungsten trioxide biphasic composite (PANI@WO3). The as-developed composite material properties were elucidated using different characterization tools such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 sorption-desorption isotherm, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The PANI@WO3 was further applied to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from aqueous solutions. The results demonstrated that the optimal removal efficacy was achieved at pH 2. Meanwhile, the pseudo-second-order kinetic and isotherm of the Langmuir model were fitted for Cr(VI) adsorption. Cr(VI) amount of 549.37 mg·g−1 was the maximum capacity of adsorption attained for PANI@WO3, which is significantly higher than that of existing adsorbents. From a thermodynamic point of view, the Cr(VI) adsorption process occurred spontaneously and endothermically. Importantly, PANI@WO3 still exhibited an excellent adsorption capability after five regeneration cycles, indicating the potential reusability of the PANI@WO3 composite. XPS analysis of PANI@WO3 surface after adsorption of Cr(VI) confirmed its adsorption and concomitant reduction into Cr(III) ions. The transfer of mass phenomenon, electrostatic attraction, and reduction reaction were the primary processes for Cr(VI) ions elimination. These findings revealed that the synthesized PANI@WO3 exhibited a high potential for wastewater treatment containing Cr(VI).

Humankind is currently heavily reliant on fossil fuel for its energy supply. However, fossil fuels are a nonrenewable source. It requires hundreds of millions of years for fossil fuels to develop inside the earth, and with our daily rate of consumption, we will run out of fuel unless we find an alternative source. Solar energy has gained much attention as a solution for the current energy deficit since it converts light energy directly to electrical energy. Dye-sensitized solar cells deliver a cheaper and dependable alternative for numerous photovoltaic devices such as organic, inorganic, and hybrid solar cells. Dye-sensitized-solar-cell technology characteristically depends on photosensitizer (Dye), electrolyte, and the metal oxide semiconductor. This review paper enlightens the working principle, components, and development of DSSCs present development and future prospectus for this novel technology.

In this study, the synthesis of a novel arginine-functionalized polyaniline/FeOOH (Arg-PANI@FeOOH) composite for hazardous Hexavalent chromium ions (Cr(VI)) removal from wastewater was reported. The SEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, and PZC measurements were used to characterize the as-developed Arg-PANI@FeOOH composite. Batch adsorption experiments were used to investigate the influence of pH, temperature, contact time, Arg-PANI@FeOOH amount, initial Cr(VI) concentration and coexisting ions on the efficiency of Cr(VI) removal. The Cr(VI) adsorption was much more advantageous at lower pH values, reflecting that the electrostatic interactions were the main driving forces that govern Cr(VI) binding mechanism on the Arg-PANI@FeOOH surface. The experimental data showed good fitness to the pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm. The Cr(VI) species highest monolayer coverage capacity onto Arg-PANI@FeOOH was 682.30 mg g−1. The adsorption of Cr(VI) onto the Arg-PANI@FeOOH is spontaneous via an endothermic reaction. The competing anions were not affected the Cr(VI) adsorption, demonstrating that the Arg-PANI@FeOOH selectively adsorb Cr(VI) ions. The developed Arg-PANI@FeOOH material demonstrated good reusability up to five regeneration cycles. The process capability to predict the practical aptitude of Arg-PANI@FeOOH adsorbent to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions was successfully applied. As a result, the adsorption of Cr(VI) onto Arg-PANI@FeOOH composite is a capable process for full-scale wastewater purification purposes. This paper provides relevant findings for a polyaniline-based adsorbent for the efficient removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater.

Mixed oxides, α-Fe2O3/Bi2WO6, were prepared using a mechanical mixing procedure by adding to the Bi2WO6 previously obtained by hydrothermal method the corresponding amount of a prepared α-Fe2O3, the latter obtained by thermal decomposition of Fe(NO3)∙9H2O. The physicochemical surface, structural, morphological characteristics and optical properties of the samples, single and mixed, were determined by BET, XRD, FE-SEM, XPS and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra showed that incorporating a 5%wt. of α-Fe2O3 to the corresponding amount of Bi2WO6 sample broadened the visible light absorption of Bi2WO6 as expected. The photocatalytic activity, of single and mixed catalysts, to degrade a selected dye such as Methyl Orange (MO) as well as the transparent substrate Phenol (Ph) was studied, in aqueous medium (pH ≈ 5.5) under UV and sun-like illumination conditions in the absence and presence of H2O2. In the present study the use of a α-Fe2O3-Bi2WO6/H2O2 system demonstrate much higher photocatalytic efficiency to degrade both MO and Ph than pristine Bi2WO6or α-Fe2O3, single or mixed. Using the system α-Fe2O3-Bi2WO6/H2O2, around 85% of MO was degraded in 60 min under sun-like illumination whereas 100% was degraded in 60 min under UV-illumination. However, just around 30% of Ph was degraded in 120 min in the α-Fe2O3-Bi2WO6/H2O2 system under sun-like illumination whereas around a 95% was degraded in 90 min under UV-illumination. Under UV-illumination, the generation of hydroxyl radicals is favorable; whereas under sun-like illumination, only the small fraction of the UV can produces the radical dotOH. Under illumination, the H2O2 could react with photoinduced electrons from the photocatalysts leading to the production of hydroxyl radicals (radical dotOH).

BaO-containing glasses of Bi2O–P2O5-V2O5 are synthesized by a conventional melt-quenching method. The as-prepared samples are first heat-treated at 350 °C overnight, and then heat-treated at 1000 °C for 30 min. The as-prepared samples are studied for their physicochemical properties using FTIR, SEM, and EDX analysis. A study of the as-prepared photocatalytic properties for the degradation of common organic dyes such as RhB under UV light is carried out. The highest rate of degradation (70%) is observed when a Bi(0.5-y)BayP(0.75-0.5y)V(0.75-0.5y)O4.5-3y catalyst with y = 0.1 was used. This sample maintains high photocatalytic activity after three cycles, without any significant decrease.

α-Fe2O3/TiO2 heterogeneous composites were synthesized by the sol-gel process to increase the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. The structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of the composites were determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Results revealed that the incorporation of α-Fe2O3 to TiO2 widened the visible light absorption ability of TiO2. It was realized that the calcination temperature plays a crucial role in morphology development hence photocatalytic activity of the α-Fe2O3/TiO2 heterogeneous composites. The photocatalytic activity of the composites calcined at various temperatures was evaluated for the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) and Phenol (Ph) in aqueous medium under UV and sun-like illuminations. The α-Fe2O3-TiO2 composites exhibits superior photocatalytic efficiency to degrade both MB and Ph as compared to both pristine TiO2 and pristine α-Fe2O3 under sun-like illumination. The α-Fe2O3/TiO2 composite degraded approximately 90 % of MB and 50 % of Ph in 180 min sun-like illumination. Improvement in photocatalytic activity is attributed to the separation of photogenerated electron/hole pairs through the interaction of α-Fe2O3 and TiO2.