Direct Z-scheme photocatalysts: Principles, synthesis, and applications

Solution combustion is an exciting phenomenon, which involves propagation of self-sustained exothermic reactions along an aqueous or sol–gel media. This process allows for the synthesis of a variety of nanoscale materials, including oxides, metals, alloys, and sulfides. This Review focuses on the analysis of new approaches and results in the field of solution combustion synthesis (SCS) obtained during recent years. Thermodynamics and kinetics of reactive solutions used in different chemical routes are considered, and the role of process parameters is discussed, emphasizing the chemical mechanisms that are responsible for rapid self-sustained combustion reactions. The basic principles for controlling the composition, structure, and nanostructure of SCS products, and routes to regulate the size and morphology of the nanoscale materials are also reviewed. Recently developed systems that lead to the formation of novel materials and unique structures (e.g., thin films and two-dimensional crystals) with unusual...

Solution Combustion Synthesis of Nanoscale Materials

Due to its low cost, environmentally friendly process, and lack of secondary contamination, the photodegradation of dyes is regarded as a promising technology for industrial wastewater treatment. This technology demonstrates the light-enhanced generation of charge carriers and reactive radicals that non-selectively degrade various organic dyes into water, CO2, and other organic compounds via direct photodegradation or a sensitization-mediated degradation process. The overall efficiency of the photocatalysis system is closely dependent upon operational parameters that govern the adsorption and photodegradation of dye molecules, including the initial dye concentration, pH of the solution, temperature of the reaction medium, and light intensity. Additionally, the charge-carrier properties of the photocatalyst strongly affect the generation of reactive species in the heterogeneous photodegradation and thereby dictate the photodegradation efficiency. Herein, this comprehensive review discusses the pseudo kinetics and mechanisms of the photodegradation reactions. The operational factors affecting the photodegradation of either cationic or anionic dye molecules, as well as the charge-carrier properties of the photocatalyst, are also fully explored. By further analyzing past works to clarify key active species for photodegradation reactions and optimal conditions, this review provides helpful guidelines that can be applied to foster the development of efficient photodegradation systems.

Mechanistic insights into photodegradation of organic dyes using heterostructure photocatalysts

Degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange by palladium-doped TiO2 photocatalysis for water reuse: Efficiency and degradation pathways

Passivating surface and bulk defects of perovskite films has been proven to be an effective way to minimize nonradiative recombination losses in perovskite solar cells (PVSCs). The lattice interference and perturbation of atomic periodicity at the perovskite surfaces often significantly affect the material properties and device efficiencies. By tailoring the terminal groups on the perovskite surface and modifying the surface chemical environment, the defects can be reduced to enhance the photovoltaic performance and stability of derived PVSCs. Here, we report a rationally designed bifunctional molecule, piperazinium iodide (PI), containing both R2NH and R2NH2+ groups on the same six-membered ring, behaving both as an electron donor and an electron acceptor to react with different surface-terminating ends on perovskite films. The resulting perovskite films after defect passivation show released surface residual stress, suppressed nonradiative recombination loss, and more n-type characteristics for sufficient energy transfer. Consequently, charge recombination is significantly suppressed to result in a high open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.17 V and a reduced VOC loss of 0.33 V. A very high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.37% (with 22.75% certified) could be achieved, which is the highest value reported for inverted PVSCs. Our work reveals a very effective way of using rationally designed bifunctional molecules to simultaneously enhance the device performance and stability.

Regulating Surface Termination for Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with Greater Than 23% Efficiency

Grafting of CuFe12O19 nanoparticles on CNT and graphene: Eco-friendly synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity

Simple sol-gel synthesis and characterization of new CoTiO3/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite by using liquid glucose, maltose and starch as fuel, capping and reducing agents.

Green synthesis of magnetic chitosan nanocomposites by a new sol–gel auto-combustion method

Facile synthesis, characterization and magnetic property of CuFe 12 O 19 nanostructures via a sol–gel auto-combustion process

The employment of 2D perovskites is a promising approach to tackling the stability and voltage issues inherent in perovskite solar cells. It remains unclear, however, whether other perovskites with...

Fatemeh Ansari

Papers

Grafting of CuFe12O19 nanoparticles on CNT and graphene: Eco-friendly synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity

Simple sol-gel synthesis and characterization of new CoTiO3/CoFe2O4 nanocomposite by using liquid glucose, maltose and starch as fuel, capping and reducing agents.

Green synthesis of magnetic chitosan nanocomposites by a new sol–gel auto-combustion method

Facile synthesis, characterization and magnetic property of CuFe 12 O 19 nanostructures via a sol–gel auto-combustion process

Passivation Mechanism Exploiting Surface Dipoles Affords High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells