Baibiao Huang

Bio: Baibiao Huang is an academic researcher from Shandong University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Photocatalysis & Band gap. The author has an hindex of 84, co-authored 672 publications receiving 29248 citations. Previous affiliations of Baibiao Huang include Wuhan University of Technology.

Oxygen vacancy induced band-gap narrowing and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of ZnO.

Abstract: Oxygen vacancies in crystal have important impacts on the electronic properties of ZnO. With ZnO2 as precursors, we introduce a high concentration of oxygen vacancies into ZnO successfully. The obtained ZnO exhibits a yellow color, and the absorption edge shifts to longer wavelength. Raman and XPS spectra reveal that the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the ZnO decreased when the samples are annealed at higher temperature in air. It is consistent with the theory calculation. The increasing of oxygen vacancies results in a narrowing bandgap and increases the visible light absorption of the ZnO. The narrowing bandgap can be confirmed by the enhancement of the photocurrent response when the ZnO was irradiated with visible light. The ZnO with oxygen vacancies are found to be efficient for photodecomposition of 2,4-dichlorophenol under visible light irradiation.

Engineering BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) nanostructures for highly efficient photocatalytic applications

Abstract: Heterogeneous photocatalysis that employs photo-excited semiconductor materials to reduce water and oxidize toxic pollutants upon solar light irradiation holds great prospects for renewable energy substitutes and environmental protection. To utilize solar light effectively, the quest for highly active photocatalysts working under visible light has always been the research focus. Layered BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) are a kind of newly exploited efficient photocatalysts, and their light response can be tuned from UV to visible light range. The properties of semiconductors are dependent on their morphologies and compositions as well as structures, and this also offers the guidelines for design of highly-efficient photocatalysts. In this review, recent advances and emerging strategies in tailoring BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) nanostructures to boost their photocatalytic properties are surveyed.

Fabrication and Characterization of Visible-Light-Driven Plasmonic Photocatalyst Ag/AgCl/TiO2 Nanotube Arrays

Abstract: Conventional TiO2 photocatalyst possesses excellent activities and stabilities, but requires near-ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (about 4% of the solar spectrum) for effective photocatalysis, thereby severely limiting its practical application. It is highly desirable to develop a photocatalyst that can use visible light in high efficiency under sunlight irradiation. In this work, we prepare new visible-light-driven plasmonic photocatalyst Ag/AgCl/TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTs) by depositing AgCl nanoparticles (NPs) into the self-organized TiO2 NTs, and then reducing partial Ag+ ions in the surface region of the AgCl particles to Ag0 species under xenon lamp irradiation. The prepared metal−semiconductor nanocomposite plasmonic photocatalyst exhibits a highly visible-light photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in water and stability. A new plasmonic photocatalytic mechanism, which is proposed on the basis of the fact that the Ag NPs are photoexcited due to plasmon resonance and c...

Evidence of the existence of magnetism in pristine VX₂ monolayers (X = S, Se) and their strain-induced tunable magnetic properties.

Abstract: First-principles calculations are performed to study the electronic and magnetic properties of VX2 monolayers (X = S, Se). Our results unveil that VX2 monolayers exhibit exciting ferromagnetic behavior, offering evidence of the existence of magnetic behavior in pristine 2D monolayers. Furthermore, interestingly, both the magnetic moments and strength of magnetic coupling increase rapidly with increasing isotropic strain from −5% to 5% for VX2 monolayers. It is proposed that the strain-dependent magnetic moment is related to the strong ionic–covalent bonds, while both the ferromagnetism and the variation in strength of magnetic coupling with strain arise from the combined effects of both through-bond and through-space interactions. These findings suggest a new route to facilitate the design of nanoelectronic devices for complementing graphene.

Plasmonic photocatalysts: harvesting visible light with noble metal nanoparticles

Abstract: The efforts to produce photocatalysts operating efficiently under visible light have led to a number of plasmonic photocatalysts, in which noble metal nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of polar semiconductor or insulator particles. In the metal–semiconductor composite photocatalysts, the noble metal nanoparticles act as a major component for harvesting visible light due to their surface plasmon resonance while the metal–semiconductor interface efficiently separates the photogenerated electrons and holes. In this article, we survey various plasmonic photocatalysts that have been prepared and characterized in recent years.

Semiconductor-based Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Abstract: 2.3. Evaluation of Photocatalytic Water Splitting 6507 2.3.1. Photocatalytic Activity 6507 2.3.2. Photocatalytic Stability 6507 3. UV-Active Photocatalysts for Water Splitting 6507 3.1. d0 Metal Oxide Photocatalyts 6507 3.1.1. Ti-, Zr-Based Oxides 6507 3.1.2. Nb-, Ta-Based Oxides 6514 3.1.3. W-, Mo-Based Oxides 6517 3.1.4. Other d0 Metal Oxides 6518 3.2. d10 Metal Oxide Photocatalyts 6518 3.3. f0 Metal Oxide Photocatalysts 6518 3.4. Nonoxide Photocatalysts 6518 4. Approaches to Modifying the Electronic Band Structure for Visible-Light Harvesting 6519

Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4)-Based Photocatalysts for Artificial Photosynthesis and Environmental Remediation: Are We a Step Closer To Achieving Sustainability?

Abstract: As a fascinating conjugated polymer, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has become a new research hotspot and drawn broad interdisciplinary attention as a metal-free and visible-light-responsive photocatalyst in the arena of solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. This is due to its appealing electronic band structure, high physicochemical stability, and “earth-abundant” nature. This critical review summarizes a panorama of the latest progress related to the design and construction of pristine g-C3N4 and g-C3N4-based nanocomposites, including (1) nanoarchitecture design of bare g-C3N4, such as hard and soft templating approaches, supramolecular preorganization assembly, exfoliation, and template-free synthesis routes, (2) functionalization of g-C3N4 at an atomic level (elemental doping) and molecular level (copolymerization), and (3) modification of g-C3N4 with well-matched energy levels of another semiconductor or a metal as a cocatalyst to form heterojunction nanostructures. The constructi...

2D metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) for energy storage

Abstract: The family of 2D transition metal carbides, carbonitrides and nitrides (collectively referred to as MXenes) has expanded rapidly since the discovery of Ti3C2 in 2011. The materials reported so far always have surface terminations, such as hydroxyl, oxygen or fluorine, which impart hydrophilicity to their surfaces. About 20 different MXenes have been synthesized, and the structures and properties of dozens more have been theoretically predicted. The availability of solid solutions, the control of surface terminations and a recent discovery of multi-transition-metal layered MXenes offer the potential for synthesis of many new structures. The versatile chemistry of MXenes allows the tuning of properties for applications including energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, reinforcement for composites, water purification, gas- and biosensors, lubrication, and photo-, electro- and chemical catalysis. Attractive electronic, optical, plasmonic and thermoelectric properties have also been shown. In this Review, we present the synthesis, structure and properties of MXenes, as well as their energy storage and related applications, and an outlook for future research. More than twenty 2D carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides of transition metals (MXenes) have been synthesized and studied, and dozens more predicted to exist. Highly electrically conductive MXenes show promise in electrical energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, electrocatalysis, plasmonics and other applications.

Understanding TiO2 photocatalysis: mechanisms and materials.

Abstract: Jenny Schneider,*,† Masaya Matsuoka,‡ Masato Takeuchi,‡ Jinlong Zhang, Yu Horiuchi,‡ Masakazu Anpo,‡ and Detlef W. Bahnemann*,† †Institut fur Technische Chemie, Leibniz Universitaẗ Hannover, Callinstrasse 3, D-30167 Hannover, Germany ‡Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, 1 Gakuen-cho, Sakai Osaka 599-8531, Japan Key Lab for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China