Observation of inherited plasmonic properties of TiN in titanium oxynitride (TiON) for solar-drive photocatalytic applications.

This study demonstrates the synthesis of titanium oxynitride (TiON) via a controlled step-annealing of commercial titanium nitride (TiN) powders under normal ambience. The structure of the formed TiON system is confirmed via XRD, Rietveld refinements, XPS, Raman, and HRTEM analysis. A distinct plasmonic band corresponding to TiN is observed in the absorption spectrum of TiON, indicating that the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) property of TiN is being inherited in the resulting TiON system.

Utilizing 2D materials to enhance H generation efficiency via photocatalytic reforming industrial and solid waste.

Sustainable valorization of industrial and solid wastes by utilizing them as feedstock to generate H via the photocatalytic reforming (PR) process holds great promise. It can also be an effective method to treat solid waste that otherwise would require tedious and expensive processes. This approach has the potential to offer energy solutions and form value-added chemicals.

Gram-scale synthesis of ZnS/NiO core-shell hierarchical nanostructures and their enhanced H production in crude glycerol and sulphide wastewater.

Design and development of the efficient and durable photocatalyst that generates H fuel utilizing industrial wastewater under solar light irradiation is a sustainable process. Innumerable photocatalysts have been reported for efficient H production, but their large-scale production with the same efficiency of H production is a challenging task. In this study, a few gram-scale syntheses of ZnS wrapped with NiO hierarchical core-shell nanostructure via the surfactant-mediated process has been reported.

Metal chalcogenide-based core/shell photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production: Recent advances, properties and technology challenges.

Metal chalcogenides play a vital role in the conversion of solar energy into hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen fuel technology can possibly tackle the future energy crises by replacing carbon fuels such as petroleum, diesel and kerosene, owning to zero emission carbon-free gas and eco-friendliness. Metal chalcogenides are classified into narrow band gap (CdS, CuS, BiS MoS CdSe and MoSe) materials and wide band gap materials (ZnS, ZnSe and ZnTe).

Monodispersed core/shell nanospheres of ZnS/NiO with enhanced H generation and quantum efficiency at versatile photocatalytic conditions.

This investigation is first to elucidate the synthesis of mono-dispersed ZnS/NiO-core/shell nanostructures with a uniform thin layer of NiO-shell on the ZnS-nanospheres as a core under controlled thermal treatments. NiO-shell thickness varied to 8.2, 12.

Light-driven transformation of biomass into chemicals using photocatalysts - Vistas and challenges.

Lignocellulosic biomass has become an important sustainable resource for fuels, chemicals and energy. It is an attractive source for alternative fuels and green chemicals because it is non-edible and widely available in the planet in huge volumes. The use of biomass as starting material to produce fuels and chemicals leads to closed carbon cycle and promotes circular economy.

Optimization of N doping in TiO nanotubes for the enhanced solar light mediated photocatalytic H production and dye degradation.

Herein, we report the optimization of nitrogen (N) doping in TiO nanotubes to achieve the enhanced photocatalytic efficiencies in degradation of dye and H gas evolution under solar light exposure. TiO nanotubes have been produced via hydrothermal process and N doping has been tuned by varying the concentration of urea, being the source for N, by solid-state dispersion process. The structural analysis using XRD showed the characteristic occupancy of N into the structure of TiO and the XPS studies showed the existence of Ti-N-Ti network in the N-doped TiO nanotubes.

High potential and robust ternary LaFeO/CdS/carbon quantum dots nanocomposite for photocatalytic H evolution under sunlight illumination.

Exploitation of the novel, robust, and advanced photocatalytic systems with high efficiency is the present demand for clean, green, and sustainable energy production. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have attracted tremendous interest in efficient H evolution from photocatalysis due to its remarkable visible-light harvesting and electron transport properties. Here, for the first time, a smart ternary nanocomposite comprises encapsulated CQDs with LaFeO spherical nanoparticles and CdS nanorods is synthesized by a simple hydrothermal procedure for the efficient photocatalytic H evolution under sunlight illumination.

Fabrication of a novel ZnInS/g-CN/graphene ternary nanocomposite with enhanced charge separation for efficient photocatalytic H evolution under solar light illumination.

Design and synthesis of efficient photocatalyst systems for a large volume of hydrogen (H) evolution under solar light is still a great challenge. To obtain high photocatalytic activity, graphene-based semiconductor photocatalysts are gaining heightened attention in the field of green and sustainable fuel production due to their good electronic properties, high surface area and chemical stability. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient, novel and smart architecture of a graphene-based ZnInS/g-CN nanojunction by a simple hydrothermal process for H generation.

Pt/TiO nanotube photocatalyst - Effect of synthesis methods on valance state of Pt and its influence on hydrogen production and dye degradation.

Direct conversion of solar energy into clean fuels is emerging as an efficient way for the future energy generation and solving environmental issues. Especially, photocatalytic splitting of water into H under solar light irradiation is one of the best techniques for clean energy production. Also, decomposition of organic pollutants using solar light is an urgent need to protect the environment.

One-pot synthesis of peroxo-titania nanopowder and dual photochemical oxidation in aqueous methanol solution.

A sol-gel hydrothermal method was developed to synthesize peroxo-titania powders and their photooxidation performances were conducted in aqueous methanol solution under visible light irradiation. Three kinds of peroxo-titania were developed using TiO(2) and H(2)O(2) containing precursor sol with different dispersion mediums such as NH(3) aq NaOH aq, or pure water. Peroxo-titania powder prepared with NH(3) aq showed highest photooxidation activity.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of monocrotophos in aqueous solution over titania hybridised with beta-zeolite.

Photocatalytic degradation of monocrotophos has been carried out in a slurry type batch reactor. The reaction variables were optimised to obtain maximum degradation efficiency. The degradation rate of monocrotophos is significantly higher for acidic solutions than for alkaline solutions.