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N-TiO2/Ni(OH)2 nanofiber was successfully prepared by combining the electrospinning and solvothermal method. It has been found that under visible light irradiation, the as-obtained nanofiber exhibits excellent activity for the photodegradation of rhodamine B, and the average degradation rate reaches 3.1%/min−1. Further insight investigations reveal that such a high activity was mainly due to the heterostructure-induced increase in the charge transfer rate and separation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi1- xSm xFe1- yMn yO3 ( BSFMO, x = 0.0, 0.05; y = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) nanoparticles were synthesized by using double solvent sol-gel method. Photocatalytic activity was investigated under UV and visible-light illumination. The structural, morphological, and optical properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy respectively. The crystallite size of BiFeO3 ( BFO) decreases from (57.3-17.2 nm) with the increase in Sm and Mn-doping concentration. The surface morphology shows that the pure and Sm-doped BFO nanoparticles are irregular in shape but changes to spherical shape after Mn-doping up to 25%. The band-gap engineering of BFO nanoparticles is achieved by co-doping of Sm and Mn. The band-gap of BFO could be tuned successfully from 2.08-1.45 eV, which may be due to the distortion induced in Fe-O octahedron and the rearrangement of molecular orbitals. These results give rise to enhanced photocatalytic activity by degradation of organic dyes ( MB, CR, and MV) under the visible-light illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cu 3 Pd 1 /SN exhibits a high performance for semihydrogenation of phenylacetylene. • Cu 3 Pd 1 /SN could activate phenylacetylene via C≡C → Nb π-bonded coordination. • The photogenerated electrons facilitate the production of active H. Bimetallic alloy of CuPd nanoclusters decorated SnNb 2 O 6 nanosheet (CuPd/SN) as a multifunctional photocatalyst has been constructed successfully. Compared with SN, CuPd/SN achieves an excellent performance for semihydrogenation of phenylacetylene under visible light irradiation. Especially, CuPd/SN with the Cu:Pd molar ratio of 3:1 exhibits the highest catalytic conversion efficiency for phenylacetylene (99.6%) with high selectivity of phenylethylene (99.4%). In situ FTIR result reveals that SN could activate phenylacetylene via a C≡C → Nb π-bonded coordination which improves the selectivity of phenylethylene. Experiment results indicate that atom Pd in alloy is responsible for dissociation H 2 , while Cu represses the overhydrogenation. Electrochemical measurements suggest that CuPd alloy on SN surface could greatly minimize the recombination of photogenerated electron − hole pairs. The separated electrons further facilitate the production of active H. Hydrogen spillover would transfer active H to Nb site for phenylacetylene semihydrogenation. Finally, a synergetic catalytic mechanism is deeply discussed at molecule scale. This work would provide a deep insight for designing a multifunctional photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Plasmonic Ag@AgBr was intercalated in the layered space of K4Nb6O17. [•] Ag@AgBr greatly increased visible light absorption for K4Nb6O17. [•] The plasmonic photocatalysts exhibited enhanced activity for the degradation of RhB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the synthesis of organic hybrid metal chalcogenides, piperazine (pip) has been widely applied as a template or charge-balancing agent in the structure assembly, but application of piperazine as a solvent to synthesize organic hybrid metal chalcogenides has not been reported. In this work, two new two-dimensional layered organic hybrid silver chalcogenidoantimonates, namely [pipH 2 ] 0.5 [Ag 2 SbS 3 ] (1), [pipH 2 ] 0.5 [Ag 2 SbSe 3 ] (2), have been synthesized by using piperazine as reaction medium. Both compounds possess the similar honeycombed anionic bilayers, and the biprotonated piperazine cations are resided between the bilayers. Thermal stabilities and optical properties of compounds 1 and 2 have been studied. Moreover, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities for reducing aqueous Cr(VI) under visible light irradiation. [Display omitted] • Two new silver chalcogenidoantimonates were prepared by using piperazine as reaction medium. • Both compounds showed excellent photocatalytic activity for reducing Cr(VI) under visible light irradiation. • The effects of pH value and initial concentration on the catalytic performance were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar driven catalysis by semiconductors is considered as a promising route to mitigate environmental problems caused by the combustion of fossil fuels and water pollution. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has offered a new opportunity to overcome the limited efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein we report that the SPR-mediated visible-light-responsive photocatalyst, 0.5 wt.% Au/SO 4 2− –TiO 2 , can achieve over 99% conversion of pollutants (thiophene, thiol, rhodamine B, and phenol) during photocatalytic oxidation with oxygen or air as oxidant under visible light irradiation. The considerable enhancement of photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Au SPR and Lewis acidic SO 4 2− –TiO 2 which are beneficial for the efficient separation and transfer of the photo-generated electrons and holes. Such a strategy would be important to the design and preparation of highly photocatalytic active semiconductor catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Bi 2 S 3 /SnS 2 heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared by combining a hydrothermal technique and a facile in situ growth method. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffusion reflectance spectroscopy and room-temperature photoluminescence spectra. Their photocatalytic performances were evaluated by degrading methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solution (50 mg/L) under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. It was found that when the mass percentage of Bi 2 S 3 in Bi 2 S 3 /SnS 2 was 7.95 wt%, the as-prepared Bi 2 S 3 /SnS 2 nanocomposite showed the best photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MO. The highly improved performance of the Bi 2 S 3 /SnS 2 nanocomposite was mainly ascribed to the efficient charge separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A type II heterojunction was formed between surface of ZnIn 2 S 4 and ZnO. • Efficient oxidative coupling of benzylamine was realized under visible light. • No extra oxygen atmosphere was required. A series of Zn x In y S z was synthesized by hydrothermal method, and the corresponding Zn x In y S z @ZnO composites with the internal type II heterojunctions were prepared by solvent assisted interface. It could be observed in SEM and TEM images of ZnIn 2 S 4 @ZnO that ZnIn 2 S 4 present a petal-like sphere composed ofnanosheets with nano-fragments of ZnO attached on its surface. The results offluorescence spectra and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that theformation of type II heterojunctions within ZnIn 2 S 4 @ZnO composites significantly promotedthe separation of photocarriers. Therefore, ZnIn 2 S 4 @ZnO delivered excellent catalyticperformance for oxidative coupling of benzylamine. Under visible-light irradiation of 2 h, the conversion of benzylamine is as high as 96%, and the catalytic performance is still very steady after several cycles. It has not been reported that such a high conversion can be achieved in such a short period of time. Another advantage is that the coupling reaction does not require additional oxygen atmosphere and can be carried out in air condition, endowing this process with the feature of easier to be operated. This work provids an effective method for oxidative coupling of benzylamine through environmentally friendly way.This work provided an effective method for coupling of benzylamine environmentally friendly way. Zn x In y S z and Zn x In y S z @ZnO composite photocatalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal and solvent assisted interface reaction for the oxidative coupling of benzylamine. Of all the photocatalysts ZnIn 2 S 4 @ZnO showed the most excellent photocatalytic activity for the coupling. It found ZnIn 2 S 4 @ZnO formed type II heterojunction and realized the efficient separation of electrons and holes in the catalytic process. The conversion of benzylamine reached 96% only after 2 h of visible light irradiation. This reaction does not require additional oxygen atmosphere and can be carried out in air condition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]