Photocatalytic Water Splitting of Al-Doped Rh x Cr2-x O3/SrTiO3 Synthesized by Flux Method: Elucidating the Role of Different Molten Salts

Article Chemistry, Physical

Insight of SrCl2 as an Appropriate Flux Medium in Synthesizing AI-Doped SrTiO3 Photocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting

Fan Fang et al.

Summary: The selection of flux medium is crucial for the synthesis of SrTiO3 photocatalysts, as different media can affect the phase structure and Al-doping amount of SrTiO3 nanoparticles.

CATALYSIS LETTERS (2023)

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Article Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

Formulation strategies for the photocatalytic H-2 evolution and photodegradation using MoO3-based Z-scheme photocatalysts

Vandna Rani et al.

Summary: Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) photocatalyst has gained considerable attention in the field of photocatalysis due to its high stability, non-toxic nature, and wide specific surface area. However, its weak visible-light absorption capability hinders further progress, primarily due to the slow charge transfer mechanism. The use of Z-scheme heterostructures has significantly improved the photocatalytic performance of MoO3 by enhancing the charge transfer pathway and visible-light utilization. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the Z-scheme mechanism and discusses various Z-scheme-based MoO3 composites, highlighting their potential applications and future research directions.

MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS (2023)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Photocatalytic water splitting of improved strontium titanate for simultaneous separation of H2 in a twin photoreactor

Yu-Yang Tai et al.

Summary: A core-shell structural Rh-CrOx loaded on Al3+ doped strontium titanate was used for simultaneous photocatalytic degradation of isopropanol and hydrogen production. A specially designed twin photoreactor was utilized, and with the help of an electron-mediator and an anion-exchanged membrane, high amounts of hydrogen gas were evolved through photocatalytic water splitting under simulated sunlight. The rate-limiting H2 rate was successfully overcome, indicating the potential of this system for efficient hydrogen production.

APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL (2023)

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Article Energy & Fuels

Emerging cocatalysts in TiO2-based photocatalysts for light-driven catalytic hydrogen evolution: Progress and perspectives

Changlei Xia et al.

Summary: TiO2-based photocatalysts have been crucial for solar-driven hydrogen production, but the poor separation of electron-hole pairs has limited their activity. Coupling with cocatalysts can effectively suppress charge recombination and enhance active centers for boosting H-2 evolution performance.

FUEL (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Effects of Al Doping on Hydrogen Production Efficiency upon Photostimulated Water Splitting on SrTiO3 Nanoparticles

Leonid L. Rusevich et al.

Summary: In this paper, the effects of Al doping on the electronic structure, optical properties, and hydrogen production efficiency of strontium titanate (STO) in photo-catalytic water splitting were studied experimentally and theoretically. The results show that Al doping significantly increases the photoactivity in water splitting. The use of Al-doped STO photocatalysts prepared in molten KCl is a cheaper and lower-temperature alternative to SrCl2 molten salt system. First-principles calculations reveal that Al doping does not considerably affect the band gap but leads to the trapping of photostimulated mobile holes, preventing electron-hole recombination and stimulating hydrogen reduction.

JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C (2022)

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Review Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

A review on molten salt synthesis of metal oxide nanomaterials: Status, opportunity, and challenge

Santosh K. Gupta et al.

Summary: The molten-salt synthesis (MSS) method is becoming an excellent bottom-up technique for synthesizing nanomaterials, offering advantages such as environmental friendliness, low cost, and ease of operation. This review article discusses the status, potential, and challenges of MSS for metal oxide nanomaterial synthesis, as well as the importance of synthesis on properties and applications of nanomaterials. It also covers different aspects of MSS, including the role of molten salt, choice of molten salt, synthesis parameters, oxosalts, and electrochemical aspects, while highlighting recent progress and successes in synthesizing various metal oxide nanomaterials.

PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE (2021)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Boron doping induced charge transfer switching of a C3N4/ZnO photocatalyst from Z-scheme to type II to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen production

Donghyung Kim et al.

Summary: This study demonstrated the switching of charge transfer mechanism from the Z-scheme to type II through simple boron doping of C3N4/ZnO. The introduction of low-electronegativity boron into C3N4 increased its Fermi level by 0.4 V, leading to a reversed band bending direction at the C3N4/ZnO junction. The resulting type II B-doped C3N4/ZnO showed a stable, drastic increase in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate, approximately 2.9 times higher than undoped C3N4/ZnO.

APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL (2021)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Surface defect engineering of metal oxides photocatalyst for energy application and water treatment

Pankaj Raizada et al.

Summary: Despite the excellent characteristics of metal oxides in photocatalysis, they often suffer from charge carrier recombination and limited visible response, leading to reduced photocatalytic output. This study provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in classifying metal oxide defects based on host crystal lattice dimensions, focusing on surface modifications through various types of defects and their impacts on photocatalytic performance. By modifying the morphology and electronic structure of metal oxide photocatalysts through defect engineering, their activity can be significantly improved for applications such as H-2 evolution, CO2 reduction, pollutant degradation, and bacterial disinfection.

JOURNAL OF MATERIOMICS (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Photocatalytic solar hydrogen production from water on a 100-m2 scale

Hiroshi Nishiyama et al.

Summary: Hydrogen, as an energy carrier, can be obtained through photocatalysis and electrolysis, making it a carbon-neutral energy source. While photocatalytic water splitting efficiency is low, large-scale safe production and collection of hydrogen is feasible. The essential next steps for economic viability and practical use are reactor and process optimization to reduce costs and improve efficiency and stability.

NATURE (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences