Photocatalytic H-2 evolution, CO2 reduction, and NOx oxidation by highly exfoliated g-C3N4

g-C3N4, with specific surface area up to 513 m(2)/g, was prepared via three successive thermal treatments at 550 degrees C in air with gradual precursor mass decrease. The obtained bulk and exfoliated (1ex, 2ex and 3ex) g-C3N4 were characterized and tested as photocatalysts for H-2 production, CO2 reduction and NOx oxidation. The exfoliated samples demonstrated graphene-like morphology with detached (2ex) and sponge-like framework (3ex) of layers. The surface area increased drastically from 20 m(2)/g (bulk) to 513 m(2)/g (3ex). The band gap (E-g) increased gradually from 2.70 to 3.04 eV. Superoxide radicals (O-center dot(2)-) were mainly formed under UV and visible light. In comparison to the bulk, the exfoliated g-C3N4 demonstrated significant increase in H-2 evolution (similar to 6 times), CO2 reduction (similar to 3 times) and NOx oxidation (similar to 4 times) under UV light. Despite the E-g widening, the photocatalytic performance of the exfoliated g-C3N4 under visible light was improved too. The results were related to the large surface area and low e(-)-h(+) recombination. The highly exfoliated g-C3N4 demonstrated selectivity towards H-2 evolution reactions.Web of Science1010art. no. 114

Solvothermal synthesis and photocatalytic performance of Mg2+-doped anatase nanocrystals with exposed {0 0 1} facets

The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and magnesium doped TiO 2 nanocrystals in dopant range of 2-6.2 at%, was studied. The doped and undoped nanocrystals with exposed {0 0 1} crystal facets were synthesized by a solvothermal method. Several studies have shown that the (0 0 1) surface of the TiO2 anatase crystal is more reactive than the thermodynamically stable (1 0 1) surface. The crystal structure as well as the shape of the TiO2 and Mg2+/TiO2 anatase nanoparticles were determined using two different techniques, such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which both lead to the agreeable conclusion that the nanocrystals are in the form of plates. Chemical analysis of the photocatalyst was carried out with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and showed the presence of magnesium ions in the TiO 2 nanoplates. UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) showed that there is an adsorption shift for doped TiO2 to visible light region. The photocalaytic efficiency of the synthesized catalysts was investigated by the photocatalytic oxidation of the gaseous nitric oxide (NO) and decomposition of the gaseous acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) under UV irradiation. It was demonstrated that the low Mg2+ doped catalysts exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than the pure TiO2. The optimal concentration of dopant that is beneficial for the photocatalytic activity was studied. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Composite Electrodes of Activated Carbon and Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles for High Power Energy Storage

Composite materials in electrodes for energy storage devices can combine different materials of high energy density, in terms of high specific surface area and pseudocapacitance, with materials of high power density, in terms of high electrical conductivity and features lowering the contact resistance between electrode and current collector. The present study investigates composite coatings as electrodes for supercapacitors with organic electrolyte 1.5 M TEABF4 in acetonitrile. The composite coatings contain high surface area activated carbon (AC) with only 0.15 wt% multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) which, dispersed to their percolation limit, offer high conductivity. The focus of the investigations is on the decoration of MWCNTs with silver nanoparticles, where smaller Ag crystallites of 16.7 nm grew on carboxylic group-functionalized MWCNTs, MWCNT–COOH, against 27–32 nm Ag crystallites grown on unfunctionalized MWCNTs. All Ag-decorated MWCNTs eliminate the contact resistance between the composite electrode and the current collector that exists when undecorated MWCNTs are used in the composite electrodes. Ag-decorated MWCNT–COOH tripled the power density and Ag-decorated MWCNT additive doubled the power density and increased the maximum energy density by 6%, due to pseudocapacitance of Ag, compared to composite electrodes with undecorated MWCNTs

Sulphur-linked graphitic and graphene oxide platelet-based electrodes for electrochemical double layer capacitors

This study presents novel investigations of sulphur-graphitic nanoplatelet (S-GNP) and sulphur-microwave expanded graphene oxide (S-MWGO) composite electrodes for structural electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) with liquid organic electrolyte 1 M TEABF4 (tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate) in propylene carbonate (PC). Elucidating the chemical structure of these electrodes, XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and Raman spectroscopy indicated the presence of CSSC links while mixed EDX (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) elemental maps displayed elemental S outlining the edges of nanoplatelets, concluding the presence of S-links between nanoplatelets. While S-linking improved the mechanical properties and ensured structural integrity of the produced monoliths without the need of any binder, it also decreased the specific surface area of the resulting materials. Furthermore, additional sulphur might have been trapped in other forms, amounting to up to 26 wt% sulphur in the composite graphitic and graphene oxide-based electrodes. Three-point bend testing yielded that an S-GNP-MWCNT monolith with 20 wt% S and 0.24 wt% MWCNT exhibited similar mechanical properties to those of a rigid polyurethane foam. The same S-GNP-MWCNT monolith exhibited an average electrode capacitance of 12.2 F g−1 during discharge at 2.2 mA/cm2. An S-MWGO-MWCNT monolith electrode with 9.6 wt% S, 16.4 wt% carbon black and 0.24 wt% MWCNT exhibited an average electrode capacitance of 64.9 F g−1 during discharge at 2.2 mA/cm2 but higher resistance than the S-GNP electrodes