Solid-liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materials

<p>Modifying TiO<sub>2</sub> has been of great interest for applications in photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, production of hydrogen from water and photovoltaic applications. The chemical composition of TiO<sub>2</sub> can be altered by doping by which t...

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Main Author: Wang, C
Other Authors: Foord, J
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
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author Wang, C
author2 Foord, J
author_facet Foord, J
Wang, C
author_sort Wang, C
collection OXFORD
description <p>Modifying TiO<sub>2</sub> has been of great interest for applications in photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, production of hydrogen from water and photovoltaic applications. The chemical composition of TiO<sub>2</sub> can be altered by doping by which the titanium and/or oxygen component is replaced. Doping alters the material’s optical properties, but sometimes at the cost of undesirable consequences. </p> <p>A novel 2-propanol/HNO<sub>3</sub> based one pot sol-gel evaporation method was developed and optimized for rapid growth of highly N doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. With the adaptation of CasaXPS software, a novel MB absorption spectrum peak deconvolution technic is proposed. Total absorption area yields better pseudo-first-order reaction linearity than using maximum absorption peak height (MB monomer) was found to be a better indicator of MB degradation. This is especially true for exotic absorption spectra change with uneven peak reduction rate. </p> <p>Photocatalytic degradation of MB by N-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> takes place via the sequential decomposition of methyl groups from MB to azure A/B/C and further mineralisation. N-doping enables photocatalytic response under visible spectrum. Samples prepared using 2 mL concentrated nitric acid in 25 mL 2-propanol solution (0.5 M Ti concentration) and annealed at 300 °C for 10 hrs yield best photocatalytic results under visible spectrum irradiation. </p> <p>Using a dip-coating method Sn doped anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> thin film grown on 5%Nb:SrTiO<sub>3</sub> (001) substrate and Sn doped rutile TiO<sub>2</sub> thin film grown on FTO substrate are achieved. Doping level of up 15% were achieved with anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> thin film epitaxial growth while maintaining host anatase structure. Sn doped anatase and rutile thin film as a photoanode material were investigated using a three-electrode setup. 10% Sn doped anatase thin film showed better photocurrent performance under UV while 1% Sn doped rutile anatase thin film performed better under simulated one sun illumination and visible spectrum. The main contribution to PEC performance is still due to the UV spectrum. The overall increase in photocurrent should be due to an increase in photoactive sites caused by Sn doping.</p> <p>The underlying principle of water oxidation and reduction using a semiconductor photoanode/cathode-based PEC device was explored, and the reason for RHE scale is explained with multiple examples of PEC designs. This serves as a standard model in interpreting electrochemical data of photoanode/photocathode in a three-electrode setup.</p> <p>Rice husk waste material can be used as a potential biomass-derived carbon material for EDLC electrode. Two different-sized bimetallic Co/Mn MOFs were grown in the channels of cRHs for improved EDLC performance. A drop-coating method was devised for EDLC testing using smaller material quantity. cRHs fabricated under different carbonisation conditions were tested with 400 °C carbonised in nitrogen (#4) showing best specific capacitance of 11.54 F/g. Carbonized metal acetate precursor derived MOFs sample #4 ACT yields a consistent specific capacitance of around 30 F/g irrespective of scan rate.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:cf9fc934-f876-4d5b-b46b-ede943377d4e2022-03-27T07:44:02ZSolid-liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materialsThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:cf9fc934-f876-4d5b-b46b-ede943377d4eMaterialsChemistry, Physical and theoreticalEnergy conversionClean energyEnglishHyrax Deposit2019Wang, CFoord, J<p>Modifying TiO<sub>2</sub> has been of great interest for applications in photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, production of hydrogen from water and photovoltaic applications. The chemical composition of TiO<sub>2</sub> can be altered by doping by which the titanium and/or oxygen component is replaced. Doping alters the material’s optical properties, but sometimes at the cost of undesirable consequences. </p> <p>A novel 2-propanol/HNO<sub>3</sub> based one pot sol-gel evaporation method was developed and optimized for rapid growth of highly N doped TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles. With the adaptation of CasaXPS software, a novel MB absorption spectrum peak deconvolution technic is proposed. Total absorption area yields better pseudo-first-order reaction linearity than using maximum absorption peak height (MB monomer) was found to be a better indicator of MB degradation. This is especially true for exotic absorption spectra change with uneven peak reduction rate. </p> <p>Photocatalytic degradation of MB by N-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> takes place via the sequential decomposition of methyl groups from MB to azure A/B/C and further mineralisation. N-doping enables photocatalytic response under visible spectrum. Samples prepared using 2 mL concentrated nitric acid in 25 mL 2-propanol solution (0.5 M Ti concentration) and annealed at 300 °C for 10 hrs yield best photocatalytic results under visible spectrum irradiation. </p> <p>Using a dip-coating method Sn doped anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> thin film grown on 5%Nb:SrTiO<sub>3</sub> (001) substrate and Sn doped rutile TiO<sub>2</sub> thin film grown on FTO substrate are achieved. Doping level of up 15% were achieved with anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> thin film epitaxial growth while maintaining host anatase structure. Sn doped anatase and rutile thin film as a photoanode material were investigated using a three-electrode setup. 10% Sn doped anatase thin film showed better photocurrent performance under UV while 1% Sn doped rutile anatase thin film performed better under simulated one sun illumination and visible spectrum. The main contribution to PEC performance is still due to the UV spectrum. The overall increase in photocurrent should be due to an increase in photoactive sites caused by Sn doping.</p> <p>The underlying principle of water oxidation and reduction using a semiconductor photoanode/cathode-based PEC device was explored, and the reason for RHE scale is explained with multiple examples of PEC designs. This serves as a standard model in interpreting electrochemical data of photoanode/photocathode in a three-electrode setup.</p> <p>Rice husk waste material can be used as a potential biomass-derived carbon material for EDLC electrode. Two different-sized bimetallic Co/Mn MOFs were grown in the channels of cRHs for improved EDLC performance. A drop-coating method was devised for EDLC testing using smaller material quantity. cRHs fabricated under different carbonisation conditions were tested with 400 °C carbonised in nitrogen (#4) showing best specific capacitance of 11.54 F/g. Carbonized metal acetate precursor derived MOFs sample #4 ACT yields a consistent specific capacitance of around 30 F/g irrespective of scan rate.</p>
spellingShingle Materials
Chemistry, Physical and theoretical
Energy conversion
Clean energy
Wang, C
Solid-liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materials
title Solid-liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materials
title_full Solid-liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materials
title_fullStr Solid-liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materials
title_full_unstemmed Solid-liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materials
title_short Solid-liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materials
title_sort solid liquid interface studies of titania and nanocarbon materials
topic Materials
Chemistry, Physical and theoretical
Energy conversion
Clean energy
work_keys_str_mv AT wangc solidliquidinterfacestudiesoftitaniaandnanocarbonmaterials