2D/2D Heterojunctions of Layered TiO<sub>2</sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> for Sunlight-Driven Methylene Blue Degradation
Photocatalysis based on titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) has become a promising method to remediate industrial and municipal effluents in an environmentally friendly manner. However, the efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub> is hampered by problems such as rapid electron–hole recom...
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MDPI AG
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Ceramics |
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| author | Juan Aliaga Matías Alegria J. Pedro Donoso Claudio J. Magon Igor D. A. Silva Harold Lozano Elies Molins Eglantina Benavente Guillermo González |
| author_facet | Juan Aliaga Matías Alegria J. Pedro Donoso Claudio J. Magon Igor D. A. Silva Harold Lozano Elies Molins Eglantina Benavente Guillermo González |
| author_sort | Juan Aliaga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photocatalysis based on titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) has become a promising method to remediate industrial and municipal effluents in an environmentally friendly manner. However, the efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub> is hampered by problems such as rapid electron–hole recombination and limited solar spectrum absorption. Furthermore, the sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> through heterojunctions with other materials has gained attention. Vanadium, specifically in the form of ammonium vanadate ((NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub>), has shown promise as a photocatalyst due to its ability to effectively absorb visible light. However, its use in photocatalysis remains limited. Herein, we present a novel synthesis method to produce lamellar (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> as a sensitizer in a supramolecular hybrid photocatalyst of TiO<sub>2</sub>–stearic acid (SA), contributing to a deeper understanding of its structural and magnetic characteristics, expanding the range of visible light absorption, and improving the efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole separation. Materials, such as TiO<sub>2</sub>–SA and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub>, were synthesized and characterized. EPR studies of (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> demonstrated their orientation-dependent magnetic properties and, from measurements of the angular variation of g-values, suggest that the VO<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup> complexes are in axially distorted octahedral sites. The photocatalytic results indicate that the 2D/2D heterojunction layered TiO<sub>2</sub>/vanadate at a ratio (1:0.050) removed 100% of the methylene blue, used as a model contaminant in this study. The study of the degradation mechanism of methylene blue emphasizes the role of reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals (<sup>•</sup>OH) and superoxide ions (O<sub>2</sub><sup>•−</sup>). These species are crucial for breaking down contaminant molecules, leading to their degradation. The band alignment between ammonium vanadate ((NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub>) and TiO<sub>2</sub>–SA, shows effective separation and charge transfer processes at their interface. Furthermore, the study confirms the chemical stability and recyclability of the TiO<sub>2</sub>–SA/(NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> photocatalyst, demonstrated that it could be used for multiple photocatalytic cycles without a significant loss of activity. This stability, combined with its ability to degrade organic pollutants under solar irradiation, means that the TiO<sub>2</sub>–SA/(NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> photocatalyst is a promising candidate for practical environmental remediation applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-78d631ce20c24f2ca6b3946d49fcd696 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2571-6131 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ceramics |
| spelling | doaj-art-78d631ce20c24f2ca6b3946d49fcd6962025-08-20T01:55:22ZengMDPI AGCeramics2571-61312024-07-017392694310.3390/ceramics70300602D/2D Heterojunctions of Layered TiO<sub>2</sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> for Sunlight-Driven Methylene Blue DegradationJuan Aliaga0Matías Alegria1J. Pedro Donoso2Claudio J. Magon3Igor D. A. Silva4Harold Lozano5Elies Molins6Eglantina Benavente7Guillermo González8Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Matemática y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago 7750000, ChileDepartamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Matemática y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago 7750000, ChileInstituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidad de São Paulo, São Carlos 13566-590, SP, BrazilInstituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidad de São Paulo, São Carlos 13566-590, SP, BrazilInstituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidad de São Paulo, São Carlos 13566-590, SP, BrazilInstituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidad de São Paulo, São Carlos 13566-590, SP, BrazilInstituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Barcelona (CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, SpainDepartamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Matemática y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago 7750000, ChileDepartamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7750000, ChilePhotocatalysis based on titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) has become a promising method to remediate industrial and municipal effluents in an environmentally friendly manner. However, the efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub> is hampered by problems such as rapid electron–hole recombination and limited solar spectrum absorption. Furthermore, the sensitization of TiO<sub>2</sub> through heterojunctions with other materials has gained attention. Vanadium, specifically in the form of ammonium vanadate ((NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub>), has shown promise as a photocatalyst due to its ability to effectively absorb visible light. However, its use in photocatalysis remains limited. Herein, we present a novel synthesis method to produce lamellar (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> as a sensitizer in a supramolecular hybrid photocatalyst of TiO<sub>2</sub>–stearic acid (SA), contributing to a deeper understanding of its structural and magnetic characteristics, expanding the range of visible light absorption, and improving the efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole separation. Materials, such as TiO<sub>2</sub>–SA and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub>, were synthesized and characterized. EPR studies of (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> demonstrated their orientation-dependent magnetic properties and, from measurements of the angular variation of g-values, suggest that the VO<sub>2</sub><sup>+</sup> complexes are in axially distorted octahedral sites. The photocatalytic results indicate that the 2D/2D heterojunction layered TiO<sub>2</sub>/vanadate at a ratio (1:0.050) removed 100% of the methylene blue, used as a model contaminant in this study. The study of the degradation mechanism of methylene blue emphasizes the role of reactive species such as hydroxyl radicals (<sup>•</sup>OH) and superoxide ions (O<sub>2</sub><sup>•−</sup>). These species are crucial for breaking down contaminant molecules, leading to their degradation. The band alignment between ammonium vanadate ((NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub>) and TiO<sub>2</sub>–SA, shows effective separation and charge transfer processes at their interface. Furthermore, the study confirms the chemical stability and recyclability of the TiO<sub>2</sub>–SA/(NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> photocatalyst, demonstrated that it could be used for multiple photocatalytic cycles without a significant loss of activity. This stability, combined with its ability to degrade organic pollutants under solar irradiation, means that the TiO<sub>2</sub>–SA/(NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> photocatalyst is a promising candidate for practical environmental remediation applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6131/7/3/60titanium dioxideheterojunctionmethylene bluephotocatalytic degradation |
| spellingShingle | Juan Aliaga Matías Alegria J. Pedro Donoso Claudio J. Magon Igor D. A. Silva Harold Lozano Elies Molins Eglantina Benavente Guillermo González 2D/2D Heterojunctions of Layered TiO<sub>2</sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> for Sunlight-Driven Methylene Blue Degradation Ceramics titanium dioxide heterojunction methylene blue photocatalytic degradation |
| title | 2D/2D Heterojunctions of Layered TiO<sub>2</sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> for Sunlight-Driven Methylene Blue Degradation |
| title_full | 2D/2D Heterojunctions of Layered TiO<sub>2</sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> for Sunlight-Driven Methylene Blue Degradation |
| title_fullStr | 2D/2D Heterojunctions of Layered TiO<sub>2</sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> for Sunlight-Driven Methylene Blue Degradation |
| title_full_unstemmed | 2D/2D Heterojunctions of Layered TiO<sub>2</sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> for Sunlight-Driven Methylene Blue Degradation |
| title_short | 2D/2D Heterojunctions of Layered TiO<sub>2</sub> and (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>V<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> for Sunlight-Driven Methylene Blue Degradation |
| title_sort | 2d 2d heterojunctions of layered tio sub 2 sub and nh sub 4 sub sub 2 sub v sub 3 sub o sub 8 sub for sunlight driven methylene blue degradation |
| topic | titanium dioxide heterojunction methylene blue photocatalytic degradation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6131/7/3/60 |
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