Electrochemically assisted photocatalytic removal of m-cresol using TiO2 thin film-modified carbon sheet photoelectrode

Abstract

In this study, removal of m-cresol has been performed using photoeletrocatalysis technique at the surface of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) thin film-modified carbon sheet photoelectrode. A biased potential was applied across this photoelectrode illuminated by UV light to investigate the feasibility of an electrochemically assisted photocatalytic process in this degradation. For preparation of this photoelectrode, the photocatalytically active TiO 2 thin film was covered on the carbon sheet by dip coating technique using economically accessible TiO 2 powder (Degussa P25). It was found that the m-cresol could be degraded more efficiently by this photoelectrocatalytic process than the degradation obtained by photocatalytic oxidation or by electrochemical oxidation or alone. The effect of various parameters, such as m-cresol concentration, pH and applied potential on the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of m-cresol was studied and discussed. Keywords m-Cresol • Degradation • Electrochemically assisted photocatalysis • TiO 2 thin film * Ebrahim Zarei

Electrochemical Characterisation of the Photoanode Containing TiO2 and SnS2 in the Presence of Various Pharmaceuticals

“…Again, the influence was similar for DCF and SA solutions (Figure 1a,b) and different for the MEM solution (Figure 1c,d). The responses of irradiated TiO 2 electrodes in DCF and SA solutions show a current peak similar to that of the dark characteristic, as well as a decrease in the current compared to the current in the NaCl solution [35,43]. The decrease in current can be explained by the adsorption of SA and DCF on the electrode surface, blocking the surface-active sites.…”

“…Electrochemical techniques can be a powerful tool in the field of PC or PEC, enabling material and material/solution interface characterisation. A review of the literature has indicated that a large number of reports are related to the photocatalyst characterisation by electrochemical methods; however, reports related to the influence of pharmaceuticals on the photocatalyst electrochemical response are still scarce [11,31,33,35,43,44]. The aim of this work was an examination of the influence of pharmaceuticals (DCF, MEM and SA) on the PEC response of TiO 2 , TiO 2 /SnS 2 and SnS 2 photoactive materials using simple and fast electrochemical methods.…”