Modulation strategies in titania photocatalyst for energy recovery and environmental remediation

Photoelectrochemical Degradation of Organic Pollutants Coupled with Molecular Hydrogen Generation Using Bi2O3/TiO2 Nanoparticle Arrays

“…Here, [ F ( R ) h ν] 2 v/s h is plotted (Figure S2) to determine the direct band gap of the prepared material as already reported in many literature. , The linear section of the plot is extrapolated on the X axis to determine the band gap. Band gap calculations (Figure b) showed that the pure rutile phase of TNRs exhibited the band gap values equal to 3.0 eV, which is in accordance with the reported literature . However, the introduction of Bi 2 O 3 over the surface of TNRs reduced the band gap to 2.90 eV at 15-BTRs .…”

“…19,21 TiO 2 has been utilized to construct photoelectrodes for PEC treatment of organic pollutants and a heavy metal co-contamination system; 18,22 but its wide band gap, which could only be excited by UV light, restricts its application. 23 Considering that visible light occupies about 43% of sunlight reaching the earth surface, expanding the response of TiO 2 from UV to the visible region by compounding with narrow band gap semiconductors has been studied intensively. 24,25 For example, TiO 2 has been modified with CdS, 26,27 BiOI, 28,29 MoS 2 , 30,31 g-C 3 N 4 , 32,33 Bi 2 O 3 , 34,35 Fe 2 O 3 , 36 etc.…”

“…The performance of a good photoelectrocatalyst depends upon the nature of photoelectrode materials used. Among all the semiconducting materials, modified TiO 2 particularly is being utilized for photoelectrocatalytic degradation of pollutant molecules due to its high number of catalytic active sites, a deep positive valence band edge, and an excellent chemical stability in a large window of potential bias and pH. , Additional advantages of TiO 2 are its low toxicity, abundance, and inexpensive price. , 1-D nanorods of TiO 2 have several advantages over other TiO 2 morphologies (such as films, nanoparticles, and nanotube arrays) for energy and environmental applications because of their high aspect ratio and high specific surface area. , TiO 2 has been utilized to construct photoelectrodes for PEC treatment of organic pollutants and a heavy metal co-contamination system; , but its wide band gap, which could only be excited by UV light, restricts its application . Considering that visible light occupies about 43% of sunlight reaching the earth surface, expanding the response of TiO 2 from UV to the visible region by compounding with narrow band gap semiconductors has been studied intensively. , For example, TiO 2 has been modified with CdS, , BiOI, , MoS 2 , , g-C 3 N 4 , , Bi 2 O 3 , , Fe 2 O 3 , etc.…”

“…39 TiO 2 has a tetragonal structure where Ti is surrounded by four oxygen atoms, and each oxygen is surrounded by three Ti atoms. 23 The Raman spectra (Figure 1c) of rutile TNRs showed two characteristic peaks at 445.1 cm −1 (E g ) and 610.1 cm −1 (A g ) corresponding to the symmetric bending of the O− Ti−O bond and symmetric stretching of the O−Ti−O bond, respectively. 47 The broad peak at 233 cm −1 corresponds to the multiple-phonon scattering process.…”

“…Band gap calculations (Figure 1b) showed that the pure rutile phase of TNRs exhibited the band gap values equal to 3.0 eV, which is in accordance with the reported literature. 23 However, the introduction of Bi 2 O 3 over the surface of TNRs reduced the band gap to 2.90 eV at 15-BTRs. 39 Further decrement in the band gap values was observed for 20-BTRs and 25-BTRs composites.…”