title: Photodegradation of organic pollutants in water and green hydrogen production via methanol photoreforming of doped titanium oxide nanoparticles.
abstract: Novel nanomaterials based on doped TiO2 nanoparticles with different morphological, textural and band-gap properties have been synthesized using scalable methods. The influence of synthetic parameters such as titanium source (titanium(IV) isopropoxide and titanium(IV) butoxide), doping quantity (0%, 2% or 5% Zn), acidic solution for the hydrolysis reaction (ascorbic acid, nitric acid) and calcination temperatures (500°C and 600°C) was simultaneously investigated. The obtained nanomaterials were characterized by different methods and photocatalytic tests of methylene blue (MB) degradation under UV-light were conducted to determine their activity. The results revealed that the synthesized nanomaterials are porous aggregates with very high crystallinity and are mainly composed of the anatase phase; although their physical properties vary depending on the different synthetic parameters employed. These changes are able to modify the apparent rate constant of the degradation of MB up to one order of magnitude, indicating, substantial changes in their photoactivity. Hybrid materials TiO2-Pd nanoparticles have also been prepared, characterized and tested for hydrogen production using photocatalytic methanol reforming where supported palladium nanoparticles acted as co-catalyst. Furthermore, the hybrid materials TiO2-Pd nanoparticles were studied in photocatalytic tests of methylene blue degradation under visible LED-light. The results obtained in the production of hydrogen from the photocatalytic reforming of methanol by hybrid materials suggest that the reported hybrid systems could be suitable photocatalysts for future sustainable hydrogen production upon tuning of the morphological, textural and band gap energy properties to allow processes to be carried out under visible light.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, E.S.C.E.T., Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rico-Oller
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques, BP 384, Siège ex-Pasna Zone Industrielle, Bou-Ismail CP 42004, Tipaza, Algérie.
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boudjemaa
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Nanoscience Laboratory and Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK.
authors.forename: Hasliza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahruji
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques, BP 384, Siège ex-Pasna Zone Industrielle, Bou-Ismail CP 42004, Tipaza, Algérie.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kebir
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, E.S.C.E.T., Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sanjiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prashar
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques, BP 384, Siège ex-Pasna Zone Industrielle, Bou-Ismail CP 42004, Tipaza, Algérie.
authors.forename: Khaldoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bachari
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, E.S.C.E.T., Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, E.S.C.E.T., Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: santiago.gomez@urjc.es.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gómez-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000737:chemistry; D010782:Photolysis; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009495:titanium dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D014025:Titanium; D008751:Methylene Blue; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Hydrogen production; Nanomaterials; Pd-nanoparticles; Photocatalysis; Titania nanoparticles; Water remediation