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Design and Synthesis of Functional Materials for Photocatalysis

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2023) | Viewed by 4301

Special Issue Editor

Research Center for Analysis and Measurement, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China
Interests: microwave synthesis; photo-active functional materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The fast-paced development of the world’s industry results in a better life for a great number of individuals in terms of employment. Nevertheless, this development is expected to inevitably cause environmental issues of contamination as well as energy crises.

Owing to the advantages of high efficiency, environmental friendliness, pollution-free and low cost, photocatalytic technology has been recognized as a promising route for many energy and environmental-related issues such as environmental pollutants treatment, gas sensing, CO2 reduction, CH4 reformation, H2 generation and so on. In recent decades, many researchers have focused on the fabrication of various nanostructures and nanocomposites to enhance the photocatalytic performance and the design of photocatalysts are still important in current and future research.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers to share developments in the design and synthesis of functional materials for photocatalysis. Original research papers, review articles and short communication letters are all welcome.

Dr. Yi Xia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • functional materials for photocatalysis
  • environmental pollutants treatment
  • gas sensing
  • CO2 reduction
  • CH4 reformation
  • H2 generation

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

25 pages, 5649 KiB  
Review
Application of Fe-MOFs in Photodegradation and Removal of Air and Water Pollutants: A Review
by Jun Cai, Yang Peng, Yanxin Jiang, Li Li, Hua Wang and Kongzhai Li
Molecules 2023, 28(20), 7121; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28207121 - 17 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1402
Abstract
Photocatalytic technology has received increasing attention in recent years. A pivotal facet of photocatalytic technology lies in the development of photocatalysts. Porous metal–organic framework (MOF) materials, distinguished by their unique properties and structural characteristics, have emerged as a focal point of research in [...] Read more.
Photocatalytic technology has received increasing attention in recent years. A pivotal facet of photocatalytic technology lies in the development of photocatalysts. Porous metal–organic framework (MOF) materials, distinguished by their unique properties and structural characteristics, have emerged as a focal point of research in the field, finding widespread application in the photo-treatment and conversion of various substances. Fe-based MOFs have attained particular prominence. This review explores recent advances in the photocatalytic degradation of aqueous and gaseous substances. Furthermore, it delves into the interaction between the active sites of Fe-MOFs and pollutants, offering deeper insights into their mechanism of action. Fe-MOFs, as photocatalysts, predominantly facilitate pollutant removal through redox processes, interaction with acid sites, the formation of complexes with composite metal elements, binding to unsaturated metal ligands (CUSs), and hydrogen bonding to modulate their respiratory behavior. This review also highlights the focal points of future research, elucidating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in harnessing the characteristics and advantages of Fe-MOF composite catalysts. In essence, this review provides a comprehensive summary of research progress on Fe-MOF-based catalysts, aiming to serve as a guiding reference for other catalytic processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Functional Materials for Photocatalysis)
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20 pages, 2603 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Photocatalysts: Design Strategies and Applications in Heavy Metal Control
by Qiang Ma, Yunling Li, Yawen Tan, Bowen Xu, Jun Cai, Yingjie Zhang, Qingyuan Wang, Qihong Wu, Bowen Yang and Jin Huang
Molecules 2023, 28(18), 6681; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28186681 - 18 Sep 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2513
Abstract
The heavy metal contamination of water systems has become a major environmental concern worldwide. Photocatalysis using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has emerged as a promising approach for heavy metal remediation, owing to the ability of MOFs to fully degrade contaminants through redox reactions that [...] Read more.
The heavy metal contamination of water systems has become a major environmental concern worldwide. Photocatalysis using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has emerged as a promising approach for heavy metal remediation, owing to the ability of MOFs to fully degrade contaminants through redox reactions that are driven by photogenerated charge carriers. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent developments in MOF-based photocatalysts for removing and decontaminating heavy metals from water. The tunable nature of MOFs allows the rational design of composition and features to enhance light harvesting, charge separation, pollutant absorptivity, and photocatalytic activities. Key strategies employed include metal coordination tuning, organic ligand functionalization, heteroatom doping, plasmonic nanoparticle incorporation, defect engineering, and morphology control. The mechanisms involved in the interactions between MOF photocatalysts and heavy metal contaminants are discussed, including light absorption, charge carrier separation, metal ion adsorption, and photocatalytic redox reactions. The review highlights diverse applications of MOF photocatalysts in treating heavy metals such as lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, silver, arsenic, nickel, etc. in water remediation. Kinetic modeling provides vital insights into the complex interplay between coupled processes such as adsorption and photocatalytic degradation that influence treatment efficiency. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is also crucial for evaluating the sustainability of MOF-based technologies. By elucidating the latest advances, current challenges, and future opportunities, this review provides insights into the potential of MOF-based photocatalysts as a sustainable technology for addressing the critical issue of heavy metal pollution in water systems. Ongoing efforts are needed to address the issues of stability, recyclability, scalable synthesis, and practical reactor engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Functional Materials for Photocatalysis)
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