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Ternary ZnS/ZnO/graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) photocatalysts were prepared by coupling gCN sheets with ZnO nanorods under solvothermal conditions followed by sulfurization using Na2S. SEM and TEM analyses show that small-sized ZnS particles (ca. 7.2 nm) deposit homogeneously on the surface of ZnO/gCN nanohybrids. Photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy show that ZnS allows for an enhanced charge separation efficiency as well as prolonged lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers, leading to improved hydrogen photoproduction under UV light irradiation compared to ZnO/gCN. Moreover, the deposition of ZnS nanoparticles improves the photostability of the ZnS/ZnO/gCN catalyst for hydrogen production. A double Z-scheme mechanism is proposed for hydrogen photoproduction using the ZnS/ZnO/gCN heterojunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel heterojunctions associating graphitic carbon nitride g-C3N4 and S-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully designed and prepared via a hydrothermal method and used for photocatalytic degradations. The loading in S-TiO2 nanoparticles on g-C3N4 was varied (5, 10 and 20 wt%), and the photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, solid-state UV-visible diffuse reflectance, photoluminescence, XPS, TEM and SEM. The S-TiO2 (5%)/g-C3N4 catalyst exhibits the highest activity for the photocatalytic degradation of the methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation. The high photocatalytic performance originates from the enhanced separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers. The S-TiO2 (5%)/g-C3N4 photocatalyst is stable and can be reused five times without a sharp drop in activity, indicating its high potential for wastewater remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn(1-x)CuxO (x = 0, 1, 3, 5%) nanocrystals were synthesized via a hydrothermal method at 150°C for 24 h. The structural, morphological, optical and photocatalytic properties of the samples were investigated, and found to be dependent on the content of the copper dopant. The UV photocatalytic activities of Zn(1-x)CuxO nanocrystals were evaluated by the photodecomposition of the methyl orange (MO) dye. The nanocrystals with a Cu content of 5% exhibited the highest UV photocatalytic activity with a photodegradation efficiency of 94% during 120 min as compared to that of pure ZnO with 73%. The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of Zn0.95Cu0.05O originates from the better separation of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I–III–VI2 group quantum dots (QDs) have attracted high attention in photoelectronic conversion applications, especially for QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). This group of QDs has become the mainstream light-harvesting material in QDSSCs due to the ability to tune their electronic properties through size, shape, and composition and the ability to assemble the nanocrystals on the surface of TiO2. Moreover, these nanocrystals can be produced relatively easily via cost-effective solution-based synthetic methods and are composed of low-toxicity elements, which favors their integration into the market. This review describes the methods developed to prepare I-III-VI2 QDs (AgInS2 and CuInS2 were excluded) and control their optoelectronic properties to favor their integration into QDSSCs. Strategies developed to broaden the optoelectronic response and decrease the surface-defect states of QDs in order to promote the fast electron injection from QDs into TiO2 and achieve highly efficient QDSSCs will be described. Results show that heterostructures obtained after the sensitization of TiO2 with I-III-VI2 QDs could outperform those of other QDSSCs. The highest power-conversion efficiency (15.2%) was obtained for quinary Cu-In-Zn-Se-S QDs, along with a short-circuit density (JSC) of 26.30 mA·cm−2, an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 802 mV and a fill factor (FF) of 71%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, novel heterostructured photocatalysts associating graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) and SmFeO3 were prepared via a mixing-ultrasonication process. Structural, optical and morphological characterizations demonstrate that the interfacial junction between g-CN and SmFeO3 is well established for all g-CN/SmFeO3 composites prepared with g-CN:SmFeO3 weight ratio of 20:80, 50:50 and 80:20. The g-CN/SmFeO3 (80:20) composite exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of pollutants like the Orange II dye and the tetracycline hydrochloride antibiotic under visible light irradiation. This high photocatalytic activity originates from the enhanced light absorption over the whole visible region compared to pure g-CN and from the improved separation and transfer of photogenerated electron/hole pairs as demonstrated by photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements. A Z-scheme charge carrier transfer mechanism was demonstrated for the photocatalytic reactions. The g-CN/SmFeO3 (80:20) catalyst was also demonstrated to be stable and can be reused up to six times without significant alteration of the activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, novel heterostructured photocatalysts associating graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) and SmFeO 3 were prepared via a mixing-ultrasonication process. Structural, optical and morphological characterizations demonstrate that the interfacial junction between g-CN and SmFeO 3 is well established for all g-CN/SmFeO 3 composites prepared with g-CN:SmFeO 3 weight ratio of 20:80, 50:50 and 80:20. The g-CN/SmFeO 3 (80:20) composite exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of pollutants like the Orange II dye and the tetracycline hydrochloride antibiotic under visible light irradiation. This high photocatalytic activity originates from the enhanced light absorption over the whole visible region compared to pure g-CN and from the improved separation and transfer of photogenerated electron/hole pairs as demonstrated by photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements. A Z-scheme charge carrier transfer mechanism was demonstrated for the photocatalytic reactions. The g-CN/SmFeO 3 (80:20) catalyst was also demonstrated to be stable and can be reused up to six times without significant alteration of the activity.

Photocatalysts composed of graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) and TiO 2 were efficiently prepared by thermolysis of the MIL-125(Ti) metal organic framework deposited on g-CN. The heterojunction between the 12 nm-sized TiO 2 nanoparticles and g-CN was well established and the highest photocatalytic activity was observed for the g-CN/TiO 2 (3:1) material. The g-CN/TiO 2 (3:1) composite exhibits high visible light performances both for the degradation of pollutants like the Orange II dye or tetracycline but also for the production of hydrogen (hydrogen evolution rate (HER) up to 1330 μmolh -1 g -1 and apparent quantum yield of 0.22% using NiS as a cocatalyst). The improved visible light performances originate from the high specific surface area of the photocatalyst (86 m 2 g -1 ) and from the efficient charge carriers separation as demonstrated by photoluminescence, photocurrent measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The synthetic process developed in this work is based on the thermal decomposition of metal organic framework deposited on a graphitic material and holds huge promise for the preparation of porous heterostructured photocatalysts.

Binary spinel-type metal oxides (AB 2 O 4 ) related materials, including ferrites (AFe 2 O 4 ), are attractive photocatalysts thanks to their excellent visible light response for the photodegradation of organic pollutants. Currently, these materials are synthesized via conventional chemical routes suffering from long preparation duration and multistep. Moreover, the photocatalysts are obtained as nano-powders from conventional chemical routes would introduce another drawback for their recycling and reuse. From an industrial perspective, it is desirable to develop an efficient and facile synthesis process to produce photocatalysts in a non-dispersible form. Herein, we demonstrate that the solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) process is a single-step method for depositing photocatalytically active zinc ferrite-based films within several minutes. The influence of the precursor ratio on the microstructures and phase compositions of the ZnFe 2 O 4 films was investigated by XRD and Raman analyses. In addition, two optimized ZnFe 2 O 4 films were prepared by increasing the ZnO loading and tailoring injection pattern of the precursor solution. The surface morphologies and optical bandgap were also determined by SEM and UV-visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of the ZnFe 2 O 4 films were evaluated through the degradation of the Orange II dye and of tetracycline hydrochloride under UV or visible light irradiation. The results show that compositional ratios and composition distribution of the ZnFe 2 O 4 films prepared via SPPS played a key role on the photocatalytic activity. The SPPS route was demonstrated to be a promising method for the synthesis and the deposition of metal oxide (i.e. perovskite type and spinel type) films within a single-step for functional applications.