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Hierarchical CuO microspheres have been successfully synthesized by chemical bath deposition, during which Cu(OH) 2 nanorobs firstly transform into CuO nanosheets and then these nanosheets spontaneously self-assemble to form CuO microspheres. Detailed characterization of the synthesized nanomaterials was performed utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV–Vis absorption spectra to study their crystalline phase, morphology and optical property. Additionally, photocatalytic performance of Cu(OH) 2 /CuO composite and pure CuO nanostructures was evaluated. Optical gaps of them are 2.75 eV and 1.33 eV respectively, showing a significant enhancement in the photocatalytic property in comparison with commercial CuO as demonstrated in photodegradation of methyl blue (MB). A growth mechanism for the formation of CuO nanostructure was also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we prepared titania nanotubes which was doped with erbium ions in ethylene glycol organic electrolyte through ions doping method. We found that the unit cell's parameters of the titania nanotubes increased when the titania nanotubes was doped with erbium ions. The Er 3+ doped titania nanotubes has a strong absorption ability of infrared light, and the doping Er 3+ has a characteristic peak when the wave number is 2341 cm −1 . When the concentration of the doping Er 3+ is 2.61 mmol/L, the titania nanotubes’ photo-degradation rate of the methylene blue can be reached to 95.2% which is larger than the titania nanotubes without doping with erbium ions. So, the titania nanotubes doped with Er 3+ is extremely suitable for using as photocatalytic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclinic nanostructured CuO films with star-like morphology on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrates were successfully synthesized by electrodeposition method in acidic solution with the pH of 5.7. The as-synthesized films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–vis. The influence of different electrodeposition parameters and annealing temperature on the growth of CuO films were investigated. The results showed that the nanostructured CuO film was well-crystallized and electrodeposition voltage is the main factor to control its morphology. Moreover, good photocatalytic activity was exhibited and photo-degradation rate to methylene blue can reach 95%. Its optical energy band gap is 3.3 eV. The plausible growth mechanism for the formation of CuO film with star-like structure is also proposed for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional composite materials have attracted wide attention because they can be applied in many fields, and have great potential for application. The superhydrophobic surface has been favored by scientists in recent years because of its excellent properties. In this paper, carbon fabric (CF) with high porosity, good electrical conductivity and excellent flexibility was selected as substrate. The CF/Zrâ€"TiO2/PDMS composites were prepared by solvo-thermal method on CF and modified by PDMS, which can be used in the fields of self-cleaning, self-healing, oil/water separation, antibacterial, anti-icing and so on. Furthermore, the PDMS modification has no or negligible adverse effect on the important textile physical properties of the CF. The effects of different process parameters on the structure and properties of CF/Zrâ€"TiO2 were studied, and the samples with the best conditions were obtained. The results show that the sample achieves the transformation from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic after modification. The CF/Zrâ€"TiO2/PDMS composite structure not only shows excellent photocatalytic activity, but also has a certain self-cleaning ability. The samples before and after modification can separate light oil/water and heavy oil/water respectively. Compared with CF/Zrâ€"TiO2, CF/Zrâ€"TiO2/PDMS has better anti- Escherichia coli ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different Ti/(I/S) composites are synthesized by sol‐gel method. The microstructure, interfacial and optical properties of the obtained different Ti/(I/S) composites are characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), surface area measurement (BET), and UV–vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV‐Vis DRS). The results show that 5‐Ti/(I/S) composite has an obvious photocatalytic activity to rhodamine B (RhB) and the degradation rate can reach 81%, ·O2− is the key oxidative species. Moreover, 5‐Ti/(I/S) composite has good stability and repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urchin-like hierarchical ZnO nanostructures consisting of cone-shaped nanorods have been successfully obtained by electrodeposition-hydrothermal method. The as prepared samples were characterized by FESEM, XRD, UV–vis, PL and photocatalytic test. We have studied the important influence of hydrothermal time on the structural, morphological and optical properties. In the FESEM images, the cone-shaped ZnO nanorods radiate from the center of the nanostructures forming a spherical urchin-like shape with a diameter of 5–10 µm. The average diameter and the length of the cone-shaped ZnO nanorods can be identified as 0.1–1 µm and 3–5 µm, respectively. In the PL spectra, a violet emission band at about 402 nm and two blue emission bands at about 446 nm and 465 nm can be observed at room temperature. In comparison with the others, urchin-like ZnO nanostructures prepared under 4 h showed enhanced photocatalytic performance. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of urchin-like ZnO nanostructures might be resulting from the higher concentration of surface oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel self-assembled BiVO 4 samples with red blood cell-like shape and flower-like microsphere were successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal approach by using Na 2 CO 3 or NH 3 ·H 2 O as the pH controlling agent and citric acid as the chelating agent. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The results showed that both the citric acid and pH controlling agent had great influences on the morphologies of the samples. Besides, the relationship between the morphology and photocatalytic activity was studied in detail. Benefiting from the unique morphology, the prepared BiVO 4 samples exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities for the degradation of MB dye under visible light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples of biochar-coupled g-C 3 N 5 /C have been prepared using 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and peanut oil as precursors to increase the specific surface area of g-C 3 N 5. The results showed that the specific surface area of g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 reached 44.7 m2 g−1, and the C/N ratio increased from 0.56 to 1.48. The weakness of its photoluminescence (PL) peak confirmed that g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 had the best separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. Furthermore, the fluorescence lifetime of g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 is extended to 6.4 ns, compared to 2.9 ns for g-C 3 N 5. Therefore, g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 displays superior photocatalytic activity to that of pure g-C 3 N 5 under visible-light irradiation. This is because the large specific surface area leads to increased absorption of visible light and efficient separation of electron–hole pairs. The hydrogen evolution rate of g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 is 303.3 μmol g−1 h−1 (cf. 67.5 μmol g−1 h−1 for g-C 3 N 5), and the photodegradation efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) is as high as 93.7% (cf. 26.1% for g-C 3 N 5). Sample g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 also maintained outstanding photocatalytic stability after four cycles. Radical scavenger experiments and ESR tests have shown •O 2 − to be the main reactive species responsible for RhB degradation under visible light. • Biochar-doped g-C 3 N 5 was synthesized by one-step method with peanut oil as biochar source. • Biochar-doped g-C 3 N 5 can improve the specific surface area and light absorption ability. • g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 exhibited H 2 evolution of 303.3 μmol g−1 h−1, which was 4.5 times than that of pure g-C 3 N 5. • The photodegradation to rhodamine B of g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 can reach 93.7% after 150 min. • The g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 has good photocatalytic activity and chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchically structured m -BiVO 4 samples with different morphologies have been synthesized via a template-free solvothermal route by adjusting the pH value of the precursor solution. The effects of pH value on structure, morphology and photocatalytic activity were investigated. The results showed that the pH value played a great influence not only on the formation of the hierarchical structures with different morphologies, but also on the preferential crystal growth of the BiVO 4 oriented along {040} facets. The pinwheel-like sample with the highest relative intensities of the diffraction peaks I 040 / I –121 exhibited the best photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of MB under visible light irradiation. According to the Ostwald ripening process, a possible oriented aggregation mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Series of visible light responsive Ag/AgBr/(I/S) composites based on I/S were synthesized by deposition-precipitation method. Methyl orange (MO) and other organic dyes were used to evaluate the photoactivity of Ag/AgBr/(I/S) composites. The results showed that Ag/AgBr/(I/S) composites display a good photocatalytic activity for organic dyes degradation. As the content of Ag/AgBr was 25 wt%, Ag/AgBr/(I/S) composites exhibited the best the photocatalytic activity for organic dyes. The degradation rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) and MO were 90% and 92% after 20 min. Furthermore, cycling experiments revealed that the 25%Ag/AgBr/(I/S) composites had long-term recycling stability. The photocatalytic mechanism of Ag/AgBr/(I/S) composites to MO degradation was studied by free radical trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) test, which indicating that photogenerated · O 2 − is the dominant reactive specie. • Ag/AgBr-I/S composite based on I/S were synthesized by deposition-precipitation method. • Ag/AgBr can improve the light absorption ability and photocatalytic property. • The photodegradation to Methyl orange of 25%-Ag/AgBr-I/S can reach 90% after 20 min. • The 25%-Ag/AgBr-I/S has good photocatalytic activity and chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution is becoming ever more serious, and photodegradation using sustainable energy-solar energy is of great importance. Studies have revealed that semiconductor compound photocatalysts have a wide range of promising applications in the treatment of environmental pollution. Based on the current view, we synthesized flower-like 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S composite catalyst for photodegradation reaction by a two-step method. We analyzed the growth mechanism of the catalysts in terms of reaction time and reaction temperature, and characterized the composites utilizing FSEM, XRD, UV–vis, and XPS. The results showed that the 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S composites synthesized under the optimal conditions we obtained experimentally had higher photocatalytic performance with 99.1% final conversion rate in 1h compared to the 97.7% final conversion efficiency of pure Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S in 1.5 h, which showed higher conversion efficiency and conversion rate, meanwhile, after 8 cycles of stability experiments, the stability of the composite remained good. Of course, the stability of the photocatalyst is also essential. Fig. 6(d) shows the cycle stability test of 3NiS/ZCS photodegradation. After eight cycles, the final conversion efficiency remains high at 95.4%, which shows good cycling stability. • Flower-like 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S were obtained by Simple and low-cost hydrothermal and solution impregnation methods. • Flower-like 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S has a higher visible light utilization efficiency than pure Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S. • The synthesis of our flower-like 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S with high photocatalytic properties and good cycling stability is promising for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ZnO/PDMS was successfully synthesized via a two-step method and the influence of process parameters was studied in detail. • ZnO/PDMS possessed excellent photocatalytic and superhydrophobic properties. • The synergistic effect of the photocatalytic and superhydrophobic properties enhanced the antibacterial performance against E. coli. The combination of photocatalysis and superhydrophobic has attracted much attention because of its great prospect. In this work, ZnO/PDMS composites were synthesized by electrodeposition-grafting modification method. The effects of process parameters on the structure and properties of the composite structures were studied, and the composite structures were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-visible spectroscopy and contact angle measurement. The results showed that the samples obtained under the optimal conditions have superhydrophobic property and remained excellent photocatalytic performance. In the self-cleaning experiment, the simulated pollutants can be effectively removed from the surface. Compared with ZnO, ZnO/PDMS possessed better resistance to Escherichia coli, which was due to the synergistic antibacterial mechanism of photocatalytic activity and superhydrophobic interaction. Furthermore, we also discussed the mechanism in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation is a new wastewater treatment technology, in which copper oxide (CuO) is a common photocatalyst. Herein, diatomaceous shale is used to load nanoscale CuO, which can, on the one hand, improve the photocatalytic performance, and on the other hand, reduce the cost of catalyst preparation. Furthermore, the morphology, crystal structures, and optical properties of the composite of CuO/diatomaceous shale are studied by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, UV–vis spectrophotometer, energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Through the study of different experimental conditions, the reusability test demonstrates that the morphology and distribution status of CuO nanostructures are controllable. In addition, a group of composite catalysts prepared under the best technological conditions is selected to conduct the actual sewage degradation experiment, and the results show that the prepared composite of CuO/diatomaceous shale has a good degradation effect on sewage. These findings provide an insight into the design and synthesis of new CuO‐based composites to effectively improve their photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]