Revealing the Role of Elementary Doping in Photocatalytic Phenol Mineralization

Photocatalytic mineralization of recalcitrant contaminants like phenol in wastewater requires abun-dant hydroxyl radicals (middotOH) to initiate the reaction prior to the ring-opening. We here increase the free energy for adsorption of O* species on TiO2 surface and slightly downshift the band position by tin doping. This can simulta-neously promote the generation and suppress the annihilation of middotOH. Besides, tin doping can also facilitate semi-conductor-cocatalyst-solution (SCS) interfacial electron transfer by lowering the potential barrier and synergisti-cally enhance the photon utilization. By filming the photocatalyst onto our developed fixed bed reactors, the loss of photons resulting from undesirable absorption by contaminants can be alleviated. By these virtues, trace amount of phenol in wastewater can be efficiently mineralized.

Automated summary

The efficiency of photocatalytic mineralization of recalcitrant contaminants such as phenol in wastewater can be increased by tin doping. Tin doping can promote the generation and suppress the annihilation of hydroxyl radicals, as well as enhance the photon utilization by facilitating interfacial electron transfer. By filming the photocatalyst onto fixed bed reactors, the loss of photons resulting from undesirable absorption by contaminants can be reduced, leading to efficient mineralization of trace amounts of phenol in wastewater.