Xuefeng Hu

Construction of exfoliated g-C3N4 nanosheets–BiOCl hybrids with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Exfoliated g-C3N4 nanosheets (CNs) were composited with bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) to fabricate a series of hybrids via a facile chemical deposition–precipitation method in this investigation. The as-synthesized BiOCl–CNs hybrids were then fully characterized by a collection of analytical techniques. It was obviously observed that CNs were in intimate contact with hierarchical BiOCl flowerlike units to form heterojunction structures, which facilitates transfer and efficient separation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs, thus greatly increasing catalytic activity upon visible light irradiation. Together with other merits such as enlarged specific surface area, favorable optical properties, and suitable energy-band structures, these robust BiOCl–CNs hybrids showed significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance towards Rhodamine B (RhB) dye removal. Under identical conditions, the apparent photocatalytic reaction rate of the best hybrid BiOCl–CNs-3% was about 2.1 and 26.6 times as high as those of BiOCl and CNs alone, respectively. A possible photocatalytic mechanism was also proposed by means of active species trapping measurements, revealing that superoxide radicals (˙O2−) played a crucial role during the catalytic process.

Photolysis Kinetics, Mechanisms, and Pathways of Tetrabromobisphenol A in Water under Simulated Solar Light Irradiation.

The photolysis of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in aqueous solution under simulated solar light irradiation was studied under different conditions to find out mechanisms and pathways that control the transformation of TBBPA during photoreaction. Particular attention was paid to the identification of intermediates and elucidation of the photolysis mechanism of TBBPA by UPLC, LC/MS, FT-ICR-MS, NMR, ESR, and stable isotope techniques ((13)C and (18)O). The results showed that the photolysis of TBBPA could occur under simulated solar light irradiation in both aerated and deaerated conditions. A magnetic isotope effect (MIE)-hydrolysis transformation was proposed as the predominant pathway for TBBPA photolysis in both cases. 2,6-Dibromophenol and two isopropylphenol derivatives were identified as photooxidation products of TBBPA by singlet oxygen. Reductive debromination products tribromobisphenol A and dibromobisphenol A were also observed. This is the first report of a photolysis pathway involving the formation of hydroxyl-tribromobisphenol A.

Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance of oxygen-rich bismuth oxychlorides

A series of novel oxygen-rich bismuth oxychloride (Bi12O17Cl2) were synthesized through a facile poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)-assisted hydrothermal route. These obtained Bi12O17Cl2 samples were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. It was found that a proper addition amount of PVP could promote the transformation of Bi12O17Cl2 morphology from irregular clusters to three-dimensional hierarchical flower-like microspheres that were nominated as sample BP2. As-synthesized samples were subjected to a photocatalytic degradation of dye Rhodamine B (RhB) or 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) under visible light. Among all candidates, the sample BP2 with a hierarchical flower-like morphology showed the best degradation efficiency for RhB and 2,4-DCP. The apparent rate constant of sample BP2 in terms of degradation of RhB was nearly 5.7 and 45 times that of unmodified BP0 and N-TiO2. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be ascribed to synergetic effects including unique hierarchical morphologies, large specific surface area, small particle size, good crystallinity, and suitable band structures. A possible mechanism of catalytic degradation was finally proposed basing upon the active species trapping experiments.

A visible-light-driven heterojuncted composite WO3/Bi12O17Cl2: Synthesis, characterization, and improved photocatalytic performance

Novel visible-light-driven WO3/Bi12O17Cl2 heterojuncted photocatalysts with different mass ratios were successfully fabricated by a facile hydrothermal process and were characterized by XRD, UV-Vis DRS, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, BET, Raman, PL, and ESR techniques. The original morphology of Bi12O17Cl2 was maintained after the addition of WO3 nanoparticles and the specific surface area values of WBx composites were obviously enlarged. The intimate contact of both components in HRTEM confirmed the generation of smooth phase interface. These as-prepared samples were subjected to the photocatalytic degradation of dye rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under visible light irradiation (λ≥420nm). Under identical conditions, WBx composites showed greatly enhanced photocatalytic performance in comparison to bare WO3 and Bi12O17Cl2. Especially, the sample WB0.5 exhibited the highest photocatalytic removal outcome over RhB among all tested candidates and owned an apparent rate constant about 73.7, 7.1, 15.8 times of those pure WO3, Bi12O17Cl2, and N-doped TiO2, respectively. The enhancement of photocatalytic capability of composites mainly attributed to the suitable morphology, enlarged specific surface areas, strengthened optical property, and favorable well-aligned straddling band-structures. Active species entrapping experiments confirmed holes and superoxide radicals as major oxidative species, by which, a possible photocatalytic mechanism was primarily proposed.

Synthesis and characterization of monoazathiacrown ethers as ionophores for polymeric membrane silver-selective electrodes

Nine monoazathiacrown ethers have been synthesized and explored as ionophores for polymeric membrane Ag(+)-selective electrodes. Potentiometric responses reveal that the ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) based on 2,2-thiodiethanethiol derivatives can exhibit excellent selectivities toward Ag(+). The plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrode using 22-membered N(2)S(5)-ligand as ionophore has been characterized and its logarithmic selectivity coefficients for Ag(+) over most of the interfering cations have been determined as <-8.0. Under optimal conditions, a lower detection limit of 2.2x10(-10)M can be obtained for the membrane Ag(+)-ISE.

The structures and transformations on Si(113) surface

The surface structures of the Si(113)-(1 X 1), Si(113)-(3 X 1) and Si(113)-(3 X 2) have been studied theoretically by means of an ab initio quantum chemical CNDO method. We address not only the importance of the surface energy but also the energy minimization and the barrier height in the different structural conversion. We found that (1) the relaxed Si(113)-(1 X 1) structure. (2) the Si(113)-(3 X 1) close to the Si(113) Ranke (3 X 1)-2 model; (3) the atomic positions of Si(113)-(3 X 2) corrugated arrangement

Synthesis, characterization, and visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance of W-SBA15

A series of tungsten-containing mesoporous SBA15 with different tungsten contents were prepared through a direct co-condensation sol-gel method and then analyzed by various techniques. XRD patterns revealed that the original mesoporous morphology was maintained after introducing tungsten species and forms of tungsten species were changed from incorporated tungsten to isolated tungsten species or low oligomeric tungsten oxide species, and finally to crystalline WO3 with the increase of tungsten precursor content, which were also proven by HRTEM images, UV-Vis DRS, and FT-IR spectra. The W-SBA15 samples exhibited satisfactory photocatalytic performance toward degradation of dye Rhodamine B (RhB) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). In particular, the best candidate, sample 10%W-SBA15 showed an apparent reaction rate constant for RhB that was nearly 10 times as high as that of bulk WO3. The enhancement of photocatalytic capability was attributed to the mesoporous morphology with enlarged surface areas, negatively charged surface, and favorable tungsten forms such as incorporated tungsten, isolated tungsten or low oligomeric tungsten oxide species. In addition, active radicals trapping experiments and DMPO spin-trapping ESR spectra indicated that photogenerated holes were major oxidative species during photocatalysis.

Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performance of Bi 12 O 17 Cl 2 Semiconductors Calcined at Different Temperatures

In the current investigation a series of oxygen-rich bismuth oxychloride Bi12O17Cl2 samples through an ethylene glycol-solvothermal route were constructed at different calcination temperatures and fully characterized by X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectra. It was demonstrated that the calcination temperatures indeed had a crucial effect on the crystallinity, grain size, morphology, optical property, and charge carrier separation of Bi12O17Cl2 series. These Bi12O17Cl2 samples showed significantly improved photocatalytic degradation over dye Rhodamine B and colorless antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride. Particularly, the best candidate, the sample 350xa0°C—Bi12O17Cl2 could show apparent reactionxa0rate constants that were nearly 28.2, 1.2 times of N–TiO2 over Rhodamine B and tetracycline hydrochloride, respectively. The possible reason of enhancing photocatalytic performance by various Bi12O17Cl2 samples calcined at different temperatures was discussed and major oxidative radicals maybe generated during photocatalytic processes were detected.

Aniline chlorination by in situ formed Ag-Cl complexes under simulated solar light irradiation.

Ag speciation in a chloride medium was dependent upon the Cl/Ag ratio after releasing into surface water. In this study, the photoreaction of in situ formed Ag-Cl species and their effects on aniline photochlorination were systematically investigated. Our results suggested that formation of chloroaniline was strongly relevant to the Cl/Ag ratio and could be interpreted using the thermodynamically expected speciation of Ag in the presence of Cl-. AgCl was the main species responsible for the photochlorination of aniline. Both photoinduced hole and •OH drove the oxidation of Cl- to radical •Cl, which promoted the chlorination of aniline. Ag0 formation was observed from the surface plasmon resonance absorption during AgCl photoreaction. This study revealed that Ag+ released into Cl--containing water may result in the formation of chlorinated intermediates of organic compounds under solar light irradiation.

Photodegradation of Pb-3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid complex under UV light illumination

The degradation of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHBA) in the presence and absence of Pb(2+) under UV illumination was studied. Addition of Pb(2+) caused the formation of precipitate during photoreaction when the solution pH was higher than 6. The presence of Pb(2+) remarkably inhibited the degradation of 3,4-DHBA and its photodegradation intermediates, while complexation of 3,4-DHBA and its photodegradation intermediates with Pb(2+) decreased the free Pb(2+) in aqueous solutions. Molecular oxygen played an important role in photodegradation of 3,4-DHBA in the presence of Pb(2+). UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to investigate the interaction between Pb(2+) and 3,4-DHBA at different pH conditions, and FT-IR was used to characterize the precipitate formed during photoreaction. The mineralization of 3,4-DHBA was investigate by total organic carbon analysis.