Records |
Author |
Zalfani, M.; van der Schueren, B.; Hu, Z.-Y.; Rooke, J.C.; Bourguiga, R.; Wu, M.; Li, Y.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Su, B.-L. |
Title |
Novel 3DOM BiVO4/TiO2nanocomposites for highly enhanced photocatalytic activity |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2015 |
Publication |
Journal of materials chemistry A : materials for energy and sustainability |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Mater Chem A |
Volume |
3 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
21244-21256 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
Abstract |
Novel 3DOM BiVO4/TiO2 nanocomposites with intimate contact were for the first time synthesized by a hydrothermal method in order to elucidate their visible-light-driven photocatalytic performances. BiVO4 nanoparticles and 3DOM TiO2 inverse opal were fabricated respectively. These materials were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, N2 adsorption–desorption and UV-vis diffuse (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectroscopies. As references for comparison, a physical mixture of BiVO4 nanoparticles and 3DOM TiO2 inverse opal powder (0.08 : 1), and a BiVO4/P25 TiO2 (0.08 : 1) nanocomposite made also by the hydrothermal method were prepared. The photocatalytic performance of all the prepared materials was evaluated by the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) as a model pollutant molecule under visible light irradiation. The highly ordered 3D macroporous inverse opal structure can provide more active surface areas and increased mass transfer because of its highly accessible 3D porosity. The results show that 3DOM BiVO4/TiO2 nanocomposites possess a highly prolonged lifetime and increased separation of visible light generated charges and extraordinarily high photocatalytic activity. Owing to the intimate contact between BiVO4 and large surface area 3DOM TiO2, the photogenerated high energy charges can be easily transferred from BiVO4 to the 3DOM TiO2 support. BiVO4 nanoparticles in the 3DOM TiO2 inverse opal structure act thus as a sensitizer to absorb visible light and to transfer efficiently high energy electrons to TiO2 to ensure long lifetime of the photogenerated charges and keep them well separated, owing to the direct band gap of BiVO4 of 2.4 eV, favourably positioned band edges, very low recombination rate of electron–hole pairs and stability when coupled with photocatalysts, explaining the extraordinarily high photocatalytic performance of 3DOM BiVO4/TiO2 nanocomposites. It is found that larger the amount of BiVO4 in the nanocomposite, longer the duration of photogenerated charge separation and higher the photocatalytic activity. This work can shed light on the development of novel visible light responsive nanomaterials for efficient solar energy utilisation by the intimate combination of an inorganic light sensitizing nanoparticle with an inverse opal structure with high diffusion efficiency and high accessible surface area. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000363163200049 |
Publication Date |
2015-09-08 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title ![sorted by Series Title field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
2050-7488;2050-7496; |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
8.867 |
Times cited |
88 |
Open Access |
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Notes |
This work was realized with the financial support of the Belgian FNRS (Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique). This research used resources of the Electron Microscopy Service located at the University of Namur. This Service is a member of the “Plateforme Technologique Morphologie – Imagerie”. The XPS analyses were made in the LISE, Department of Physics of the University of Namur thanks to Dr P. Louette. This work was also supported by Changjiang Scholars and the Innovative Research Team (IRT1169) of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. B. L. Su acknowledges the Chinese Central Government for an “Expert of the State” position in the Program of the “Thousand Talents” and a Clare Hall Life Membership at the Clare Hall and the financial support of the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge. G. Van Tendeloo and Z. Y. Hu acknowledge support from the EC Framework 7 program ESTEEM2 (Reference 312483).; esteem2_jra4 |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 8.867; 2015 IF: 7.443 |
Call Number |
c:irua:129476 c:irua:129476 |
Serial |
3951 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Li, Y.; Yang, X.-Y.; Rooke, J.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Su, B.-L. |
Title |
Ultralong Cu(OH)(2) and CuO nanowire bundles: PEG200-directed crystal growth for enhanced photocatalytic performance |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2010 |
Publication |
Journal of colloid and interface science |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Colloid Interf Sci |
Volume |
348 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
303-312 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
Abstract |
Ultralong Cu(OH)(2) and CuO nanowire bundles with lengths ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers have been selectively synthesized on a large scale by a facile solution-phase method, using PEG200 as growth-directing agent. The growth mechanisms were investigated by monitoring the nanowire evolution process. The results showed that under the action of PEG200 molecules, the Cu(OH)(2) and CuO nanowires were first formed through oriented attachment of colloidal particles, then through side self-assembly leading to nanowire bundles, and finally to CuO nanoleaves. PEG200 plays a critical role in the synthesis of nanowires as it not only prevents the random aggregation of colloidal particles toward CuO nanoleaves but also helps to orientate nanowire growth by the coalescence and alignment in one direction of the colloidal particles. The concentration of OH(-) in the reaction system is also important for nanowire growth. In the absence of PEG200, nanoleaves are formed by an Ostwald ripening process. The band-gap value estimated from a UV-Vis absorption spectrum of CuO nanowire bundles is 2.32 eV. The photodegradation of a model pollutant, rhodamine B, by CuO nanowires and nanoleaves was compared with commercial nanopowders, showing that the as-synthesized ultralong CuO polycrystalline nanowire bundles have an enhanced photocatalytic activity with 87% decomposition of rhodamine B after an 8-h reaction, which was much higher than that of single-crystal nanoleaves (61%) and commercial nanopowders (32%). The origin of the high photocatalytic activity of these new polycrystalline CuO nanowire bundles has been discussed. This present work reveals that the (0 0 2) crystallographic surface is more favorable for photocatalytic decomposition of organic compounds and that these ultralong CuO nanowire bundles are potential candidates for photocatalysts in wastewater treatment. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
New York, N.Y. |
Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000279968700002 |
Publication Date |
2010-04-26 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title ![sorted by Series Title field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0021-9797; |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
4.233 |
Times cited |
70 |
Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.233; 2010 IF: 3.068 |
Call Number |
UA @ lucian @ c:irua:95589 |
Serial |
3795 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Yang, X.-Y.; Tian, G.; Chen, L.-H.; Li, Y.; Rooke, J.C.; Wei, Y.-X.; Liu, Z.-M.; Deng, Z.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Su, B.-L. |
Title |
Well-organized zeolite nanocrystal aggregates with interconnected hierarchically micro-meso-macropore systems showing enhanced catalytic performance |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2011 |
Publication |
Chemistry: a European journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Chem-Eur J |
Volume |
17 |
Issue |
52 |
Pages |
14987-14995 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
Abstract |
Preparation and characterization of well-organized zeolitic nanocrystal aggregates with an interconnected hierarchically micromesomacro porous system are described. Amorphous nanoparticles in bimodal aluminosilicates were directly transformed into highly crystalline nanosized zeolites, as well as acting as scaffold template. All pores on three length scales incorporated in one solid body are interconnected with each other. These zeolitic nanocrystal aggregates with hierarchically micromesomacroporous structure were thoroughly characterized. TEM images and 29Si NMR spectra showed that the amorphous phase of the initial material had been completely replaced by nanocrystals to give a micromesomacroporous crystalline zeolitic structure. Catalytic testing demonstrated their superiority due to the highly active sites and the presence of interconnected micromesomacroporosity in the cracking of bulky 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene (TIPB) compared to traditional zeolite catalysts. This synthesis strategy was extended to prepare various zeolitic nanocrystal aggregates (ZSM-5, Beta, TS-1, etc.) with well-organized hierarchical micromesomacroporous structures. |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
Weinheim |
Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000298547300035 |
Publication Date |
2011-11-23 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title ![sorted by Series Title field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0947-6539; |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
5.317 |
Times cited |
61 |
Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 5.317; 2011 IF: 5.925 |
Call Number |
UA @ lucian @ c:irua:96274 |
Serial |
3913 |
Permanent link to this record |