title: Time- and energy-efficient solution combustion synthesis of binary metal tungstate nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity.
abstract: In the search for stable and efficient photocatalysts beyond TiO2 , the tungsten-based oxide semiconductors silver tungstate (Ag2 WO4 ), copper tungstate (CuWO4 ), and zinc tungstate (ZnWO4 ) were prepared using solution combustion synthesis (SCS). The tungsten precursor's influence on the product was of particular relevance to this study, and the most significant effects are highlighted. Each sample's photocatalytic activity towards methyl orange degradation was studied and benchmarked against their respective commercial oxide sample obtained by solid-state ceramic synthesis. Based on the results herein, we conclude that SCS is a time- and energy-efficient method to synthesize crystalline binary tungstate nanomaterials even without additional excessive heat treatment. As many of these photocatalysts possess excellent photocatalytic activity, the discussed synthetic strategy may open sustainable materials chemistry avenues to solar energy conversion and environmental remediation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA).
authors.forename: Abegayl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Rerrich Sq. 1, 6720 (Hungary). janaky@chem.u-szeged.hu.|MTA-SZTE "Lendület" Photoelectrochemistry Research Group, Szeged, Rerrich Sq. 1, 6720 (Hungary). janaky@chem.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janáky
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, Rerrich Sq. 1, 6720 (Hungary).|MTA-SZTE "Lendület" Photoelectrochemistry Research Group, Szeged, Rerrich Sq. 1, 6720 (Hungary).
authors.forename: Gergely F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Samu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA).
authors.forename: Muhammad N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Huda
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA).
authors.forename: Pranab
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarker
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA).
authors.forename: J Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA).
authors.forename: Vuong
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: van Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA).
authors.forename: Evelyn H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA).
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schug
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA). rajeshwar@uta.edu.|Center for Renewable Energy Science & Technology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019 (USA). rajeshwar@uta.edu.
authors.forename: Krishnan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajeshwar
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D008027:Light; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010782:Photolysis; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D012996:Solutions; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D012834:Silver; C100258:methyl orange; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; C045951:tungstate
keywords: bandgap engineering; combustion synthesis; photocatalysis; semiconductors; solar energy