Bi2O3/TiO2 Catalyst with Biochar Support for Visible Light Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photocatalysts, such as TiO2, have limited efficiency under visible light due to fast electron-hole pair recombination and limited light absorption, hindering their application in sustainable energy conversion and environmental remediation, while existing hybrid photocatalysts lack enhanced activity and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid photocatalyst system combining diselenide bis-Schiff bases with gold-modified Bi2O3/TiO2 supported on carbon biochar, which enhances visible light absorption and photocatalytic performance through increased surface area and synergistic electron transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TiO2 is used as a photocatalyst, then photostability and oxidative power are improved, but visible light absorption efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines TiO2 with Bi2O3 and Au nanoparticles to create a hybrid photocatalyst system. This merging allows the system to leverage the photostability and oxidative power of TiO2 while the Bi2O3 and Au components enhance visible light absorption, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining photostability and improving visible light absorption efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite photocatalyst material consisting of TiO2, Bi2O3, and Au nanoparticles. This composite structure enables the material to simultaneously achieve high photostability from TiO2 and enhanced visible light absorption from Bi2O3 and Au, effectively addressing the limitation of pure TiO2 under visible light.
2Power
If Bi2O3 is used as a photocatalyst, then photoconductivity and photoluminescence are improved, but electron-hole pair recombination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Au nanoparticles as an intermediary component that facilitates charge separation. The Au nanoparticles act as electron traps, capturing electrons and preventing them from recombining with holes, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining the high photoconductivity and photoluminescence properties of Bi2O3.
3Ease of operation
If conventional photocatalysts are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity in pollutant degradation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs biochar as a porous support matrix for the photocatalyst. The porous structure of biochar provides high surface area and numerous active sites for pollutant adsorption and degradation, significantly enhancing photocatalytic productivity while maintaining ease of operation through simple filtration and reuse processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hybrid photocatalyst exhibits improved photocatalytic activity under both UV and visible light, facilitating efficient energy conversion and pollutant degradation, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for environmental remediation.
Implementation Method 1
a photocatalyst, or semiconductor, absorbs light and acts as a catalyst for the photocatalysis reaction
Implementation Method 2
Bi2O3 is a p-type metal oxide semiconductor with high dielectric permittivity and refractive index, a remarkable band gap of about 2.85 to 2.58 eV, excellent photoconductivity
Implementation Method 3
certain organoselenium compounds have been investigated for their potential to degrade organic pollutants in water and soil through oxidation reactions
Implementation Method 4
photocatalytic degradation of environmental toxins offers numerous advantages to current methods
Implementation Method 5
Gold (Au) nanoparticles also act as electron traps, facilitating charge separation and extending light absorption into the visible range
Implementation Method 6
carbon biochar... utilizing the biochar's abundant, renewable, and carbon-rich nature... increase the amount of visible light absorbed and surface area available for photocatalytic reactions
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing a Se/Biochar-Au—Bi2O3/TiO2 catalyst includes acid treatment of a palm waste with phosphoric acid to form an acid-treated palm waste, carbonizing the acid-treated palm waste to form an acid-treated biochar, and chlorinating acyl groups present on the acid-treated biochar with oxalyl chloride to form a chlorinated biochar. The method may include reacting the chlorinated biochar with an organoselenium compound to form an organoselenium-functionalized biochar and mixing the organoselenium-functionalized biochar with Au-doped Bi2O3/TiO2 particles to form the Se/Biochar-Au—Bi2O3/TiO2 catalyst.