• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 2012

Objectives: The photocatalytic degradation of toluene in a batch mode photoreactor for the purpose of the hazardous waste treatment was investigated. Methods: Kinetic experiments using a low pressure mercury lamp (Lambda Scientific Pty Ltd, 50 Watt) emitting both UV and visible light were performed at $31^{\circ}C$ over toluene concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 mg/l in water with $50%TiO_2/6%WO_3$ (TW) concentration of 1 g/l at a pH of 6. Results: Kinetic studies showed that $50%TiO_2/6%WO_3$ (TW) photocatalyst was highly active in toluene degradation; we observed that 99% of the pollutant was degraded after six hours under visible irradiation; furthermore, we observed that adsorption onto TW catalyst was responsible for the decrease of toluene with pseudo-first order kinetics. It was also found that oxygen as a radical source in the sol medium played a significant role in affecting the photodegradation of toluene, especially with a two-fold elevation. This increase was achieved by a more than four-fold elevation of the photodegradation of toluene in the presence of acetone than without, presumably via an energy transfer mechanism. Conclusions: We concluded that photodegradation in acetone and oxygen molecules along with TW was an effective method for the removal of toluene from wastewater.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.529-535
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• 2020

The present study investigated the photodegradation of synthetic organic dye; violet-3B, without and with the addition of C-N-codoped TiO₂ catalyst using a visible halogen-lamp as a light source. The catalyst was synthesized by using a peroxo sol-gel method with free-organic solvent. The effects of initial dye concentration, catalyst dosage, and pH solution on the photodegradation of violet-3B were examined. The efficiency of the photodegradation process for violet-3B dye was higher at neutral to less acidic pH. The kinetics reaction rate of photodegradation of violet-3B dye with the addition of C-N-codoped TiO₂ followed pseudo-first order kinetics represented by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, and increasing the initial concentration of dyes decreased rate constants of photodegradation. Photodegradation of 5 mg L^-1 violet-3B dye achieved 96% color removal within 240 min of irradiation in the presence of C-N-codoped TiO₂ catalyst, and approximately 44% TOC was removed as a result of the mineralization.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2010

In this study, boron, carbon, nitrogen and fluorine co-doped $TiO_{2}$ photocatalysts using tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEATFB) have been prepared by different heat treatment temperatures to decrease the band gap. To explore the visible light photocatalytic activity of the novel low‐zband gap $TiO_{2}$ photocatalyst, the removal of two dyes was investigated, namely, acridine orange and rhodamine B. XRD patterns demonstrate that the samples calcined at temperatures up to $800^{\circ}C$ clearly show anatase peaks. The XPS results show that all the doped samples contain N, C, B and F elements and the doped $TiO_{2}$ shows the shift in the band gap transition down to 2.98 eV as UV-DRS results. In these UV-Vis results, photocatalytic activity of the doped $TiO_{2}$ is 1.61 times better than undoped $TiO_{2}$. Specially, excellent photoactivity results were obtained in the case of samples treated at $700^{\circ}C$.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2021

Recently, there has been increasing demand for advancing photocatalytic techniques that are capable of the efficient removal of organic pollutants in water. TiO₂, a representative photocatalytic material, has been commonly used as an effective photocatalyst, but it is rather expensive and an alternative is required that will fulfill the requirements of both high performing photocatalytic activities and cost-effectiveness. In this work, ZnO, which is more cost effective than TiO₂, was synthesized by using a microreactor-assisted nanomaterials (MAN) process. The process enabled a continuous production of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with a flower-like structure with high uniformity. In order to resolve the limited light absorption of ZnO arising from its large band gap, Ag NPs were uniformly decorated on the flower-like ZnO surface by using the MAN process. The plasmonic effect of Ag NPs led to a broadening of the absorption range toward visible wavelengths. Ag NPs also helped inhibit the electron-hole recombination by drawing electrons generated from the light absorption of the flower-like ZnO NPs. As a result, the Ag-ZnO nanocomposites showed improved photocatalytic activities compared with the flower-like ZnO NPs. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the successful synthesis of Ag-ZnO nanocomposites with high uniformity. Ag-ZnO nanocomposites synthesized via the MAN process offer the potential for cost-effective and scalable production of next-generation photocatalytic materials.

• Clean Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2000

In the photocatalytic degradation of benzene using $TiO_2$ as photocatalyst, anionic effects were investigated. When near UV and visible light was irradiated, the photodegradation of benzene was slightly increased in which $S_2O{_8}^{2-}$ or $NO{_3}^-$ coexisted with $TiO_2$. But $NO{_2}^-$ or $Cl^-$ diminished it remarkably, because these anions scavenged hydroxyl radical. While in the case of UV light irradiation, $S_2O{_8}^{2-}$ and $NO{_3}^-$ enhanced photodegradation of benzene due to photosensitization of these anions, but $NO{_2}^-$ or $Cl^-$ diminished it little.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2021

Pure and Sm ion doped BiVO₄ catalysts were synthesized using a conventional hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, DRS, SEM, and PL. We also examined the activity of these materials on the photocatalytic decomposition of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The doping of Sm ion into BiVO₄ catalyst changed the ms-BiVO₄ crystal structure into the tz-BiVO₄ crystal structure in the low synthesis temperature. Light absorption analysis using DRS showed that all the catalysts displayed strong absorption in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum regardless of Sm ion doping. In addition, an amorphous morphology was shown in the pure BiVO₄ catalyst, but the morphology of the BiVO₄ catalyst doped with Sm ion was changed into an ellipse shape and also the particle size decreased. In the photocatalytic decomposition of rhodamine B, Sm ion doped BiVO₄ catalyst showed higher photocatalytic activity than the pure BiVO₄ catalyst. In addition, the Sm3-BVO catalyst doped with 3% Sm ion showed the highest photocatalytic activity, as well as the highest formation rate of OH radicals (•OH) and the highest PL peak. This result suggests that the formation rate of OH radicals produced in the interface between the photocatalyst and water is well correlated with the photocatalytic activity.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.420-424
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• 2016

In this study, we developed photocatalytic technology to address the emerging serious problem of air pollution through indoor air cleaning. A single layer of $WO_3$ was prepared by using the dry process of general RF magnetron sputtering. At a base vacuum of $1.8{\times}10^{-6}$[Torr], the optical and electrical properties of the resulting thin films were examined for use as a transparent electrode as well as a photocatalyst. The single layer of $WO_3$ prepared at an RF power of 100 [W], a pressure of 7 [mTorr] and Ar and $O_2$ gas flow rates of 70 and 2 sccm, respectively, showed uniform and good optical transmittance of over 80% in the visible wavelength range from 380 [nm] to 780 [nm]. The optical catalyst characteristics of the $WO_3$ thin film were examined by investigating the optical absorbance and concentration variance in methylene blue, where the $WO_3$ thin film was immersed in the methylene blue. The catalytic characteristics improved with time. The concentration of methylene blue decreased to 80% after 5 hours, which confirms that the $WO_3$ thin film shows the characteristics of an optical catalyst. Using the reflector of a CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) and the lens of an LED (lighting emitting diode), it is possible to enhance the air cleaning effect of next-generation light sources.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2003

Titanium dioxide films were prepared by RF sputtering method on glass for various oxygen partial pressures at power 270 W. The crystal structure, photocatalytic property and the hydrophilicity of $TiO_2$thin film the deposition conditions were investigated. Crystallized anatase phase was observed in $TiO_2$film deposited at the ratio of oxygen partial pressure 10% and 20% for 2 hrs. As the increase of deposition time, the grain size and void size of $TiO_2$film have increased and also $V_2$films have been good crystallinity. The ultraviolet-visible light absorption of $TiO_2$films was increased with increasing of deposition time and occured chiefly at the wavelength between 280 and 340 nm. The absorption band was shifted to a longer wave length as deposition time increased. Water contact angle on the X$TiO_2$film of anatase structure was decreased with increasing ultraviolet illumination time and became lower than $11^{\circ}$ from $83^{\circ}$. When hydrophilic $TiO_2$film changed by enough ultraviolet illumination was stored in the dark, the film surface gradually turned to hydrophobic state.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.246-246
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• 2016

Tungsten-nitrogen (W-N) co-doping has been known to enhance the photocatalytic activity of anatase titania nanoparticles by utilizing visible light. The doping effects are, however, largely dependent on calcination or annealing conditions, and thus, the massive production of quality-controlled photocatalysts still remains a challenge. Using density functional theory (DFT) thermodynamics and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) computations, we investigate the atomic structures of N doping and W-N co-doping in anatase titania, as well as the effect of the thermal processing conditions. We find that W and N dopants predominantly constitute two complex structures: an N interstitial site near a Ti vacancy in the triple charge state and the simultaneous substitutions of Ti by W and the nearest O by N. The latter case induces highly localized shallow in-gap levels near the conduction band minimum (CBM) and the valence band maximum (VBM), whereas the defect complex yielded deep levels (1.9 eV above the VBM). Electronic structures suggest that substitutions of Ti by W and the nearest O by N improves the photocatalytic activity of anatase by band gap narrowing, while defective structure degrades the activity by an in-gap state-assisted electron-hole recombination, which explains the experimentally observed deep level-related photon absorption. Through the real-time propagation of TDDFT (rtp-TDDFT), we demonstrate that the presence of defective structure attracts excited electrons from the conduction band to a localized in-gap state within a much shorter time than the flat band lifetime of titania. Based on these results, we suggest that calcination under N-rich and O-poor conditions is desirable to eliminate the deep-level states to improve photocatalysis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.353-353
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• 2011

Titanium dioxide is a suitable material for industrial use at present and in the future because titanium dioxide has efficient photoactivity, good stability and low cost [1]. Among the three phases (anatase, rutile, brookite) of titanium dioxide, the anatase form is particularly photocatalytically active under ultraviolet (UV) light. In fabrication of photocatalytic devices based on catalytic nanodiodes [2], it is challenging to obtain a photocatalytically active TiO2 thin film that can be prepared at low temperature (< 200$^{\circ}C$). Here, we present the synthesis of a titanium dioxide film using TiO2 nanoparticles and sol-gel methods. Titanium tetra-isopropoxide was used as the precursor and alcohol as the solvent. Titanium dioxide thin films were made using spin coating. The change of atomic structure was monitored after heating the thin film at 200$^{\circ}C$ and at 350$^{\circ}C$. The prepared samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microcopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), and ellipsometry. XRD spectra show an anatase phase at low temperature, 200$^{\circ}C$. UV-vis confirms the anatase phase band gap energy (3.2 eV) when using the photocatalyst. TEM images reveal crystallization of the titanium dioxide at 200$^{\circ}C$. We will discuss the switching behavior of the Pt /sol-gel TiO2 /Pt layers that can be a new type of resistive random-access memory.