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Catalysts
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Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future
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Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Photocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 2489

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xiuli Dong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, USA
Interests: catalyst; photocatalyst; nanomaterials; microbiology; pathogenic microorganisms; antimicrobial effects; microbial resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pathogens are the leading cause of many infectious diseases, and developing antimicrobial materials with low toxicity contributes to public health. Photocatalysts, by producing radical oxygen species (ROS) with the activation of light, can cause physical damage and kill many microorganisms. Many studies have proven that photocatalysts can effectively inactivate various pathogenic microorganisms in the environment, including bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, viruses, etc. Photocatalysts are also known for their low toxicity and environmentally friendly nature. This Special Issue covers the design, preparation, characteristics, toxicity, and antimicrobial effects of photocatalysts, as well as their associated mechanisms, microbial resistance, ability to optimize the reaction conditions, etc. We invite authors to contribute original research papers and review papers to this Special Issue, focusing on inactivating pathogenic microorganisms using photocatalysts.

Dr. Xiuli Dong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 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

  • photocatalyst
  • photocatalysis
  • antimicrobial effects
  • pathogenic microorganisms
  • toxicity
  • antimicrobial mechanism

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2853 KiB  
Article
BiOI-MIL Binary Composite for Synergistic Azo Dye AR14 Discoloration
by Mahmoud Shams, Samane Abd Mojiri, Masoomeh Shafaee, Najmaldin Ezaldin Hassan, Aliakbar Dehghan, Mansour Baziar, Elaheh K. Goharshadi and Shahabaldin Rezania
Catalysts 2025, 15(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15010026 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 225
Abstract
Acid red 14 (AR14) is a widely used azo dye that belongs to a major family of commercial dyes employed extensively in the textile industry. The present study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic discoloration of AR14 using a visible-light-responsive catalyst. The composite catalyst [...] Read more.
Acid red 14 (AR14) is a widely used azo dye that belongs to a major family of commercial dyes employed extensively in the textile industry. The present study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic discoloration of AR14 using a visible-light-responsive catalyst. The composite catalyst was synthesized by integrating thermally modified MIL-101 (M-MIL) integrated into bismuth oxide. Thermal modification of MIL-101 produced octahedral α-Fe2O3 particles with a size of 1–2 μm, which were incorporated into bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) featuring a nanosheet structure. BiOI@M-MIL composite exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic activity. The bandgap energy, Eg, of BiOI was reduced from 1.95 eV to 1.73 eV in the composite. Photocatalytic reactions were performed under visible-light irradiation using a 5 W cold LED lamp. The AR14 discoloration tests demonstrated that BiOI@M-MIL was 1.81-fold more efficient compared to pristine BiOI. Key parameters affecting AR14 discoloration —such as catalyst dosage, pH, dye concentration, and contact time, were investigated. The composite achieved almost a complete dye removal efficiency of 94.26% under experimental conditions. Radical trapping tests highlighted the crucial role of superoxide radicals, O2.−, in the dye discoloration process. BiOI@M-MIL takes advantage of simultaneous adsorption and photocatalysis with the highest adsorption capacity of 45.32 mg g−1 and 32.2 mg g−1, based on Sips and Langmuir models, respectively. The catalyst also showed good reusability and ~14% loss in removal efficiency after five consecutive cycles. In conclusion, the BiOI@M-MIL composite demonstrates excellent photocatalytic performance, combining low energy consumption with material stability, making it a promising candidate for AR14 discoloration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future)
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16 pages, 1798 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Photoactivated Chlorophyllin Production of Singlet Oxygen and Inactivation of Foodborne Pathogens
by Cristina Pablos, Javier Marugán, Rafael van Grieken, Jeremy W. J. Hamilton, Nigel G. Ternan and Patrick S. M. Dunlop
Catalysts 2024, 14(8), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14080507 - 6 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1010
Abstract
Singlet oxygen (1O2) is known to have antibacterial activity; however, production can involve complex processes with expensive chemical precursors and/or significant energy input. Recent studies have confirmed the generation of 1O2 through the activation of photosensitizer molecules [...] Read more.
Singlet oxygen (1O2) is known to have antibacterial activity; however, production can involve complex processes with expensive chemical precursors and/or significant energy input. Recent studies have confirmed the generation of 1O2 through the activation of photosensitizer molecules (PSs) with visible light in the presence of oxygen. Given the increase in the incidence of foodborne diseases associated with cross-contamination in food-processing industries, which is becoming a major concern, food-safe additives, such as chlorophyllins, have been studied for their ability to act as PSs. The fluorescent probe Singlet Oxygen Sensor Green (SOSG®) was used to estimate 1O2 formation upon the irradiation of traditional PSs (rose bengal (RB), chlorin 6 (ce6)) and novel chlorophyllins, sodium magnesium (NaChl) and sodium copper (NaCuChl), with both simulated-solar and visible light. NaChl gave rise to a similar 1O2 production rate when compared to RB and ce6. Basic mixing was shown to introduce sufficient oxygen to the PS solutions, preventing the limitation of the 1O2 production rate. The NaChl-based inactivation of Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli was demonstrated with a 5-log reduction with UV–Vis light. The NaChl-based inactivation of Gram-positive S. aureus was accomplished with a 2-log reduction after 105 min of visible-light irradiation and a 3-log reduction following 150 min of exposure from an initial viable bacterial concentration of 106 CFU mL−1. CHS-NaChl-based photosensitization under visible light enhanced Gram-negative E. coli inactivation and provided a strong bacteriostatic effect preventing E. coli proliferation. The difference in the ability of NaChl and CHS-NaChl complexes to inactivate Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was confirmed to result from the cell wall structure, which impacted PS–bacteria attachment and therefore the production of localized singlet oxygen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future)
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Review

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21 pages, 2890 KiB  
Review
Visible-Light-Activated TiO2-Based Photocatalysts for the Inactivation of Pathogenic Bacteria
by Farhana Haque, Allison Blanchard, Baileigh Laipply and Xiuli Dong
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120855 - 25 Nov 2024
Viewed by 739
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria in the environment pose a significant threat to public health. Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photocatalysts have emerged as a promising solution due to their potent antimicrobial effects under visible light and their generally eco-friendly properties. This review focuses on the [...] Read more.
Pathogenic bacteria in the environment pose a significant threat to public health. Titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based photocatalysts have emerged as a promising solution due to their potent antimicrobial effects under visible light and their generally eco-friendly properties. This review focuses on the antibacterial properties of visible-light-activated, TiO2-based photocatalysts against pathogenic bacteria and explores the factors influencing their efficacy. Various TiO2 modification strategies are discussed, including doping with non-metals, creating structure defects, combining narrow-banded semiconductors, etc., to extend the light absorption spectrum from the UV to the visible light region. The factors affecting bacterial inactivation, and the underlying mechanisms are elucidated. Although certain modified TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) show antibacterial activities in the dark, they exhibit much higher antibacterial efficacies under visible light, especially with higher light intensity. Doping TiO2 with elements such as N, S, Ce, Bi, etc., or introducing surface defects in TiO2 NPs without doping, can effectively inactivate various pathogenic bacteria, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, under visible light. These surface modifications are advantageous in their simplicity and cost-effectiveness in synthesis. Additionally, TiO2 can be coupled with narrow-banded semiconductors, resulting in narrower band gaps and enhanced photocatalytic efficiency and antibacterial activities under visible light. This information aids in understanding the current technologies for developing visible-light-driven, TiO2-based photocatalysts and their application in inactivating pathogenic bacteria in the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalysis towards a Sustainable Future)
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