Themed collection Photocatalysis and Photoelectrochemistry

In this review, we summarize the recent advantages of heterogeneous nanostructures for photocatalytic ammonia decomposition.

Graphene nanocrystals can utilize solar light and are valuable in cases where electricity is lacking due to their chemical stability during the photocatalytic process, low cost and non-toxicity.

Rational designs of the conductive layer below photocatalytic films determine the efficiency of a photoanode for solar water oxidation.

“Solar hydrogen and oxygen cycles” involving hydrogen (H₂) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as the key compounds, respectively, can be driven by gold nanoparticle-based plasmonic photocatalysts.

This review summarizes recent developments in the photo/electro catalytic and photosensitizing characteristics of metal and alloy NCs for green energy and medical applications.

In this review, we mainly summarize the important progresses made in the development of photocatalysis-oriented mesocrystals, including synthesis engineering, functional modifications (hybridization and doping), and typical structure-related photocatalytic mechanisms. Some urgent issues and perspectives have also been discussed.

Optical and electrical characteristics of wide bandgap metal oxides, namely the charge mobility, bandgap and energy level, directly define the performance and stability of photovoltaics.

Sunlight active U₃O₈@ZnO nanocomposite photocatalyst has been synthesized for the first time using co-precipitation method.

Cu₂O 3D photoelectrode for PEC water splitting are realized by a sequential process including extrusion-based 3D printing and electrodeposition.

Molybdenum sulfoselenides are investigated as photoelectrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Crystallinity and selenium-to-sulphur ratio are key to control activity.

RP/SnS₂ nanocomposite as photocatalyst was fabricated for the first time, exhibiting remarkable activity to synchronous removal of Cr(VI) and RhB. The possible pathway of carriers and photocatalytic degradation mechanism was systematically studied.

Deposition of highly efficient, nanostructured, solar-responsive ZnO (SRZO) photoanode for H₂ generation by solution precursor plasma spray deposition technique. In PEC Cell, SRZO shows a STH conversion efficiency of 2.32% as seen by evolved H₂.

Re-utilization of waste for fabricating photocatalyst to treat polluted water.

Herein, we report the in situ single-step hydrothermal synthesis of hierarchical 2D SnS@ZnIn₂S₄ nano-heterostructures and the examination of their photocatalytic activity towards hydrogen generation from H₂S and water under sunlight.

Doped anatase TiO₂ towards photocatalytic N₂ fixation and TCH degradation under visible light illumination.

A magnetic γ-Fe₂O₃@PANI@TiO₂ nanocomposite acts as an efficient photocatalyst coupled with adsorption for arsenic removal. It could achieve a good capacity of As(III) removal under visible light.

Prototype microdroplet fuel cells propose a synergistic approach towards energy harvesting and environmental remediation, thereby advancing the development of sustainable hybrid devices.

A green tea leaf-derived cadmium sulfide quantum dot-based system containing different weight percentages of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and polypyrrole, named PSC, was designed via a green method.

A green hydrothermal synthesis route to prepare a porous Ni doped TiO₂ nanostructured photocatalyst has been developed in this research. Ni doping can increase the visible light photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ with cycle capability of 5 times.

The Ti_0.7W_0.3O₂/TiO₂ nanocomposite interfacial photocatalyst was designed and prepared for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol pollutants in wastewater.

Isopropanol-assisted synthesis MAPbBr₃ wrapped/entrapped p-g-C₃N₄ intergrowth microcrystals have inverted type-I core/shell band configuration which leads to enhanced interfacial charge transfer and molecular oxygen activation.

Texturing the front surface of thin film photovoltaic cells with ordered or disordered arrangements of subwavelength structures is beneficial in terms of efficient light harvesting as well as efficient carrier extraction.

Au@TiO₂ core–shell nanocomposites with tunable morphology, shell thickness, and crystallinity are developed as effective catalysts for plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis.

We report new efficient core–shell nanocomposites for photocatalytic CO₂ to CO conversion at ambient temperature with enhanced yield and selectivity.

SPR enhanced self-powered PEC sensing platform for glucose detection.

Power is generated during organics photoelectrochemical degradation using electrodeposited coatings of g-C₃N₄ or graphene on TiO₂ nanotube arrays.

Photoelectrocatalytic mechanism of ZnO/CuI for antibiotic resistant bacterial disinfection.

Observation of relevant phenomena related with dynamical redox process in a plasmonic heterogeneous-photocatalyst system composed by Ag nanoparticles (NPs) in contact with amorphous AgCl NPs are reported by in situ transmission electron microscopy.

Optimum Ag loading and hetero-junction formation of a Sg-C₃N₄/Bi₂O₃/Ag (15%) 2D-nanohybrid are responsible for enhanced degradation of RhB and TCH under visible light.

Carbon black is chemically activated by selective TiO₂ photocatalytic oxidation functionalizing the graphitic carbon fraction, while mineralizing amorphous carbon.

Enhanced photoactivity in Nb₂O₅ on incorporation of metal dopants towards degradation of water pollutants.

Developing metal-free halogen-doped covalent triazine-based frameworks for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic H₂-production performances.

Au₈Ag₃(PPh₃)₇Cl₃ alloy nanoclusters with C₃-axis Ag doping exhibit photothermodynamic and electrochemical stability improvements to afford photoluminescence and photocatalytic oxidation enhancement.

Fabrication of a novel NFO@P–CN nanocomposite for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol and evolution of H₂ through a Z-scheme mechanism.

MXene Ti₃C₂/TiO₂ hybrids with a 2D multilayer structure, prepared by calcination of F-terminated Ti₃C₂, exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic H₂-production activity.

In view of the easy control and contactless spatial nature of light, the photoreversible color switching system has attracted tremendous attention.

Influence of Pd NPs in the BiVO₄/S-CN photocatalyst is demonstrated for the efficient water splitting and imine synthesis via tandem reaction.

Heterojunctions of the low bandgap semiconductor bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) with bulk multilayered graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and few layered graphitic carbon nitride sheets (g-C₃N₄-S) are synthesized and investigated as an active photoanode material for sunlight driven water splitting.

A well-defined Bi/BiOBr flowerlike heterostructure has been fabricated via an in situ solvothermal strategy, and it exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for synchronously removing multiple antibiotics coexisting in water.

A novel biogenic-deposition-precipitation (BDP) approach has been presented for the preparation of stable binary composites using fennel seed extract.

The use of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) scheelite structures for converting solar energy into fuels and chemicals for fast growth in lab to industrial scale for large-area modules is a key challenge for further development.

A significant promotional effect of co-existing ions on photocatalytic water splitting performance of KCa₂Nb₃O₁₀ restacked nanosheets with deposited Pt nanoclusters is presented.

We screened 2D monolayers to explore the materials which could be used to fabricate type-II heterojunctions with C₂N monolayers to further improve their photocatalytic performance.

Constructing a direct Z-scheme photocatalyst of in situ self-assembled FeWO₄/g-C₃N₄ nanosheet composite provides a sustainable pathway for organic pollutant degradation.