Sharif Digital Repository

The photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 modified by the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Cu is reported. Nanocomposites of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) containing varying amounts of Cu were formed by treatment with Cu2+ then reduced to Cu0 using NaBH4 as the reducing agent. The mesoporous TiO2, synthesized by a sol-gel method from titanium isopropoxide, was combined with the CNT/Cu nanocomposites to form the photocatalysts which were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS and BET surface area analysis. The photocatalytic properties of the mesoporous TiO2 composites were studied by measuring the degradation of methyl orange (MO) which was optimal in the sample containing 20wt% of... 

Titania nanofibers were prepared using a colloidal solution of Titania nanoparticles and a templating method. The preparation comprises impregnation of cellulose fibers in the solution containing Titania nanoparticles followed by thermal removal of the cellulose template. It is evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that the residue substance consists of micron size fibers with a microstructure of nanofibers. The pore size distribution of the substance is multi-scale and fractal morphology was demonstrated with two fractal regimes with dimensions of 1.78 and 2.97 for sizes below and above 7.5nm, respectively. The surface area of the Titania fibers was measured about 250m2/g. The... 

ZnO and Mordenite zeolite (MOR) nanoparticles were prepared by precipitation process using ultrasonic irradiation and hydrothermal method, respectively. Supported ZnO catalysts were prepared and the effect of different supports on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles was investigated. All prepared samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform-Infra Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis) and BET surface area technique. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts was elucidated using the photo-oxidation of Acid Blue 92 (AB92) as a hazardous pollutant under UV light. The effect of different... 

Photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solution was investigated using ZnO nanoparticles immobilized on glass plate. The ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by solution combustion method (SCM) using zinc nitrate as oxidant and glycine as fuel. In the slurry ZnO system the separation and recycling of the photocatalyst is practically difficult. Thus, the ZnO nanoparticles were immobilized on glass supports to solve this problem. The effects of process parameters like, catalyst loading, initial dye concentration, and UV-radiation intensity have been investigated. The best results of MB removal were reported in the 1800 μW cm-2 UVC using two layers immobilized ZnO... 

Nanocomposite thin film of N-doped ZnO-CuO was deposited on glass substrate using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. Zinc acetate, copper acetate and ammonium acetate with different molar ratios were dissolved in water and used as precursors. A crumpled-shape morphology consisting of nanometer-sized particles was observed with FESEM. The elemental composition was evaluated with EDX analysis and the presence of nitrogen, oxygen, copper and zinc was confirmed. XRD analysis revealed the presence of ZnO and CuO crystalline phases with crystallite size of about 18 nm. The prepared nanocomposites exhibited high photocatalytic activity in degradation of methyl orange under UV light irradiation. ©... 

In this paper, we report the preparation of a new composite (TiO2/SiO2/γ-Fe2O3/rGO) with a high photocatalytic efficiency. The properties of the composite were examined by different analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), photoluminescence (PL), UV-Visible light diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), and nitrogen gas physisorption (BET) studies. The photocatalytic efficiency of the proposed composite was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue under UV and visible light, and the results were compared with titanium dioxide (TiO2), where... 

Treatment of dye pollution containing C.I. Acid Red 14 (AR14) by a coupled photocatalytic process was studied. Titanium dioxide, in the form of anatase and rutile, and zinc oxide, were used as photocatalysts. The investigated photocatalysts were Aldrich-produced nanopowders with crystallites of a mean size of 20-30 nm and a specific surface area of about 50 m 2/g. A comparison of TiO 2(anatase), TiO 2(rutile), TiO 2(a,r), and ZnO for the decolorization of the AR14 solution was performed. Results showed that color removal followed the decreasing order of TiO 2(a,r), ZnO > TiO 2(a,r) > TiO 2(a), ZnO > TiO 2(r), ZnO >TiO 2(a,r) > TiO 2(a) > ZnO > TiO 2(r). Response surface methodology (RSM) was... 

A new multifunctional filtration membrane was prepared by twofold advantages of conventional polymeric-membrane as the supporting layer and magneto-plasmonic Ag-doped ZnO@Fe3O4/MWCNTs nanocomposite as the functional layer. Poly acrylic acid (PAA)-modified polyamide (PA) discs (PAA-PA) were applied to increase the hydrophilicity of prepared membrane and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used for characterization. The grafting yield of PAA in the pores and on the surface of PA was 17 wt.% and weigh difference between PAA-PA membrane before and after modifying with the photocatalyst was 8.7 mg. The amount of photocatalyst loading in the prepared... 

The photocatalytic degradiation of phenol by nanoTiO2 particles coated on perlite as a new composite nano-catalyst was investigated. Titanium dioxide (Degussa P-25) was immobilized on three different supports (perlite granules, glass plates and steel fiber) by a very simple and inexpensive method. Perlite granules have a porosity of more than 95%, which allows them to stay afloat on water surface. This gives the medium a unique characteristic from the processing point of view, which enables it to get wetted with the polluted solution without requiring any pumping and simultaneously be exposed to the radiation source when coated with the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity of prepared... 

A green mechanochemical technique has been developed for the synthesis of mixed ammonium silver phosphomolybdate salt, (NH4)1.6Ag1.4PMo12O40.4H2O with sheet-like nanostructure. The reaction was prompted using acetamide/NH4NO3 at room temperature. The change of driving agent to urea at the same conditions led to an epitaxial growth of hierarchical microstructure of this polyoxoanion. The morphological and structural features of the prepared specimens were discussed in detail. The photocatalytic performance of the resulting nanosheets for removing 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in water under visible light... 

Global environmental pollution and energy supply demand have been regarded as important concerns in recent years. Metal oxide semiconductor photocatalysts is a promising approach to apply environmental remediation as well as fuel generation from water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction. ZnO nanostructures have been shown promising photocatalytic activities due to their non-toxic, inexpensive, and highly efficient nature. However, its wide band gap hinders photo-excitation for practical photocatalytic applications under solar light as an abundant, clean and safe energy source. To overcome this barrier, many strategies have been developed in the last decade to apply ZnO nanostructured... 

The current study demonstrates homogenous decorating of zinc oxide quantum dots (QDs) onto graphene oxide (GO) surface via simple chemical method. The AFM image exhibited that the prepared graphene was 0.8 nm thick and hence practically monolayer. Average size of the ZnO QDs was estimated by transmission electron microscopy around 3 nm. Instrumental and chemical analyses demonstrated formation of a strong bond between ZnO QDs and GO, through C-O-Zn and C-Zn bridges. The UV-visible spectra displayed that the introduction of graphene sheets to ZnO QDs resulted in higher absorption intensity of UV as well as widening of adsorption window toward visible light for ZnO-Graphene due to chemical... 

Herein, an electrochemical technique as a cost-effective and one-step approach was utilized to fabricate graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Different amounts of GQDs (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 wt %) were decorated uniformly on the surface of anodized ZnO nanowires (NWs) forming GQD/ZnO NWs. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy confirmed formation of GQDs on the ZnO NWs, 12-22 nm in width and 1-3 graphene layers thick. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed to verify the functional groups on the surface of GQDs, and the results indicated that GQDs readily anchored on the surface of ZnO NWs. The GQD/ZnO NWs exhibited a... 

The coupling of photocatalysis with membrane technology, which is known as photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs), has received great consideration in recent years and become a promising approach with the high potential to improve the fouling of membranes. In this paper, the photocatalyst of g-C3N4 treated with H2O2 was incorporated with a polysulfone membrane to enhance the anti-fouling properties of the membrane. AFM, FE-SEM images, porosity, and contact angle analysis indicated that the membrane properties like hydrophilicity, porosity, and surface roughness were improved. Also, UV–visible DRS, PL spectra, EIS analysis confirmed that the treated g-C3N4 (H2O2-g-C3N4) had high light... 

Sulfur doped and pure micro-nanoporous TiO2 film were synthesized with PEO method to produce a film with a high surface area for photocatalysis applications. The effect of applied voltage and electrolyte concentration on the microstructure and photocatalytic properties of the prepared layer were investigated via SEM, XRD, EIS and DRS studies. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was carried out in order to determine the corrosion and electrochemical properties of the produced layer. It was found that although the barrier layer resistance decreases with the voltage, the layers porosity and consequently the surface area increases. Finally the XRD and DRS spectrums were correlated with... 

The microemulsion method was successfully used to prepare a series of TiO2, Fe oxide and SiO2 doped TiO2 nanoparticles at Fe/Ti atomic ratio of 10% and Si/Ti atomic ratio of 15%. The molar ratio of water to surfactant (W0) was 2. The samples were calcinated at 350°C. The structural features of TiO2, Fe oxide and SiO 2-TiO2 were investigated by XRD, UV-Visible spectroscopy, SEM and TEM. XRD data verified the formation of typical characteristic anatase form in all the prepared Fe and SiO2-doped TiO2 samples. In comparison with the pure TiO2, Fe oxide and SiO 2-TiO2 samples were relatively large in particle size, indicating that doping with Fe oxide and SiO2 can help in increasing the particle... 

Micro arc oxidation technique, as a facile and efficient process, was employed to grow sulfur doped titania porous layers. This research sheds light on the photocatalytic performance of the micro arc oxidized S-TiO2 nano-porous layers fabricated under pulse current. Morphological and topographical studies, performed by SEM and AFM techniques, revealed that increasing the frequency and/or decreasing the duty cycle resulted in formation of finer pores and smoother surfaces. XRD and XPS results showed that the layers consisted of anatase and rutile phases whose fraction was observed to change depending on the synthesis conditions. The highest anatase relative content was obtained at the... 

Visible light-active BiOCl/BiVO4/mordenite and Ag/BiOCl/BiVO4 nanocomposite with a p–n heterojunction structure were prepared. Mordenite nanocrystals were synthesised using the hydrothermal method. Deposition and reduction methods were utilised to modify the Zeolite surface. The photocatalytic activities of the heterojunctions were investigated by scanning the change of Acid blue 92 (AB92) concentration under visible irradiation. The nanocomposites demonstrated improved efficiency for dye photodegradation. The activities are due to strong oxidative ability and efficient charge separation and transfer through the BiOCl/BiVO4 p–n junction. The photogenerated electron-holes react with species... 

CuO flower-like microcrystals, prepared by a facile template-free thermal method, showed incredible photocatalytic activity towards degradation of Acid Blue 92 (AB92), an organic wastewater, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus pathogenic bacteria under visible light. The products were well characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) analysis methods. The XRD pattern of the products well confirmed the formation of copper oxide crystalline phase without any other impurities. The results of the photocatalytic... 

RGO/Ag/TiO2-nanotubes/Ti plates with high photocatalytic activity were fabricated via electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide on Ag/TiO2-nanotubes. The loading of silver nanoparticles was carried out by electroless reduction of Ag1+ onto TiO2 nanotubes previously formed by anodizing titanium. Microstructure studies show that reduced graphene oxide (RGO) layers having high surface area have been deposited on the as-prepared Ag/TiO2-nanotubes, where nanoparticles of Ag had grown on the walls of TiO2-nanotubes. The results of photocatalytic experiments demonstrate that the RGO/Ag/TiO2-nanotubes/Ti plate exhibits significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for the photocatalytic...