Collection of Removal of Pollution via catalysis(202506)

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Preparation of FePc/MXene Composite Cathode and Electro-Fenton Degradation of Sulfadimethoxine
LIU Huilai, LI Zhihao, KONG Defeng, CHEN Xing
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2025, 40 (1): 61-69.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20240176
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Development of electrode materials with high activity and stability is a key issue to achieve efficient degradation of sulfonamide pollutants by electro-Fenton (EF) system. In this work, FePc/MXene nanocomposites were prepared by using MXene material as carrier to load iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and employed as cathodic catalyst to construct EF system for the degradation of sulfadimethoxine (SDM). After loading FePc, the nanomaterials retained accordion-like lamellar structure with slightly roughened surface and narrowed interlayer spacing. Coordination number of FeNx in FePc/MXene was about 4, in which the interaction between FePc and MXene was favorable to promote the electron transfer at the electrode surface. In the EF system, the FePc/MXene electrode achieved a 97.2% degradation rate of SDM within 50 min, showing excellent catalytic performance and stability over wide pH range. The significant improvement in degradation performance was mainly attributed to the enhanced activity of O2 electrocatalytic reduction to H2O2 by the introduction of FeN4 in the composites. Free radical (·OH and ·O2-) and non-radical (1O2) pathways were co-operative in the degradation of SDM by EF system. Frontier orbital theory and Fukui function theoretically elucidated the sites where SDM was attacked by different reactive oxygen species, primarily degrading through hydroxylation of the benzene ring, oxidation of the amino group on the benzene ring, and cleavage of C-S and S-N bonds. In addition, cycling and ion leaching experiments demonstrated the excellent stability of the prepared cathode catalysts.

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Peroxymonosulfate Activation by CoFe2O4/MgAl-LDH Catalyst for the Boosted Degradation of Antibiotic
LI Jianjun, CHEN Fangming, ZHANG Lili, WANG Lei, ZHANG Liting, CHEN Huiwen, XUE Changguo, XU Liangji
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2025, 40 (4): 440-448.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20240222
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Owing to outstanding hydrophilicity and ionic interaction, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as a promising carrier for high performance catalysts. However, the synthesis of new specialized catalytic LDHs for degradation of antibiotics still faces some challenges. In this study, a CoFe2O4/MgAl-LDH composite catalyst was synthesized using a hydrothermal coprecipitation method. Comprehensive characterization reveals that the surface of MgAl-LDH is covered with nanometer CoFe2O4 particles. The specific surface area of CoFe2O4/MgAl-LDH is 82.84 m2·g-1, which is 2.34 times that of CoFe2O4. CoFe2O4/MgAl-LDH has a saturation magnetic strength of 22.24 A·m2·kg-1 facilitating efficient solid-liquid separation. The composite catalyst was employed to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the efficient degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). It is found that the catalytic performance of CoFe2O4/MgAl-LDH significantly exceeds that of CoFe2O4. The maximum TCH removal reaches 98.2% under the optimal conditions ([TCH] = 25 mg/L, [PMS] = 1.5 mmol/L, CoFe2O4/MgAl-LDH = 0.20 g/L, pH 7, and T = 25 ℃). Coexisting ions in the solution, such as SO42−, Cl, H2PO4, and CO32−, have a negligible effect on catalytic performance. Cyclic tests demonstrate that the catalytic performance of CoFe2O4/MgAl-LDH remains 67.2% after five cycles. Mechanism investigations suggest that O2•−and 1O2 produced by CoFe2O4/MgAl-LDH play a critical role in the catalytic degradation.

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Structure Regulation of ZIF-67 and Adsorption Properties for Chlortetracycline Hydrochloride
HONG Peiping, LIANG Long, WU Lian, MA Yingkang, PANG Hao
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2025, 40 (4): 388-396.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20240382
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Improper disposal of antibiotics poses significant risks to the aquatic environment. Development of efficient adsorbents for removal of antibiotics in environment is currently an important approach to address this issue. In this study, a series of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) materials with different morphologies were synthesized by adjusting the solvent composition during the synthesis process to investigate their adsorption properties for chlortetracycline hydrochloride (CTC). The results indicate that as the volume ratio of methanol to water decreases, the synthesized ZIF-67 transforms from a rhombic dodecahedral structure to a stacked hexagonal platelet structure which is more favorable for the adsorption of CTC. Based on a detailed investigation of the effects of temperature, solution pH, concentration, and types of impurity ions on the adsorption performance of CTC by ZIF-67 with a stacked hexagonal platelet structure (denoted as ZIF-67-3), the kinetics of the adsorption process indicate that the adsorption process follows both pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model. Moreover, ZIF-67-3 (at a dosage of 100 mg·L-¹) achieved a removal rate of over 90% for CTC (with an initial concentration of 30 mg·L-1) within 20 min, and the maximum CTC adsorption capacity of ZIF-67-3 could reach 1206.58 mg·g−1 under neutral conditions. Since ZIF-67-3 primarily adsorbs CTC through interactions such as π-π/π-cation interaction and hydrogen/coordination bonds, belonging to a monolayer chemical adsorption mechanism, ZIF-67-3 facilitates full exposure of active adsorption sites, thus exhibiting superior CTC adsorption performance. In summary, this study reveals the influence of solvent composition during synthesis on the morphology and structure of ZIF-67, elucidates the adsorption mechanism of ZIF-67-3 adsorbent for CTC, and provides theoretical support for the practical application of ZIF-67 in removal of antibiotic pollution.

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Cu2O/Cu Hollow Spherical Heterojunction Photocatalysts Prepared by Wet Chemical Approach
JIA Xianghua, ZHANG Huixia, LIU Yanfeng, ZUO Guihong
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2025, 40 (4): 397-404.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20240370
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As visible light photocatalysts, narrow bandgap semiconductors can effectively convert solar energy to chemical energy, exhibiting potential applications in alleviating energy shortage and environmental pollution. Cu2O/Cu hollow spherical heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared by one-pot solvothermal method without any template using CuCl2·H2O as precursor, H3NO·HCl and NaBH4 as reducing agents. Morphologies, crystal structures, composition, specific surface areas, and optical properties of the products were analyzed. Addition of NaBH4 gradually changes the morphology of Cu2O/Cu from hollow truncated octahedra to hollow nanospheres. Thickness of Cu layer on surface of Cu2O can be easily controlled by tuning amount of NaBH4. Direct reduction of Cu2O by NaBH4 leads to intimate contact between Cu2O and Cu interfaces, which is favorable for carrier separation and transport. Meanwhile, surface plasmon resonance effect of Cu promotes the absorption capability of Cu2O/Cu to visible light, thus the prepared hollow sphere Cu2O/Cu particles exhibit a higher photodegradation capability for methyl orange (MO) and colorless enrofloxacin (ENR). Catalytic performance of Cu2O/Cu is very stable, with no significant change in its photocatalytic efficiency for MO after five recycles. Free-radical removal experiments indicate that ∙O2- and holes were dominant species during the MO degradation. Higher photodegradation capability of Cu2O/Cu for MO is attributed to synergistic effect of Cu2O and Cu. This study provides a promising strategy for preparation of heterojunction photocatalysts.

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Organic Pollutant Fenton Degradation Driven by Self-activated Afterglow from Oxygen-vacancy-rich LiYScGeO4: Bi3+ Long Afterglow Phosphor
FAN Xiaoxuan, ZHENG Yonggui, XU Lirong, YAO Zimin, CAO Shuo, WANG Kexin, WANG Jiwei
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2025, 40 (5): 481-488.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20240495
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Self-activated long afterglow photocatalysts show great potential for all-weather wastewater treatment, with sustained photocatalytic activity even under dark conditions. However, the radiative combination of afterglow luminescence and photocatalytic degradation reaction has competitive utilization for photogenerated carriers, reducing afterglow duration and generating excessive hole accumulation, which significantly limits the efficiency of long afterglow driven photocatalytic degradation. Here, a long afterglow photocatalyst LiYGeO4: Bi3 based on oxygen vacancy (VO) was prepared, which released ultraviolet afterglow after activation by ultraviolet light irradiation and degraded organic pollutants via photocatalytic degradation driven by its own afterglow in dark condition. The trap concentration was improved by engineering oxygen vacancies and crystal fields, significantly enhancing the afterglow duration and intensity of VO-LiYScGeO4: Bi3+. A Fenton reaction system was constructed to further increase the concentration of active species, which maximized the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of VO-LiYScGeO4: Bi3+ during the afterglow duration. After 10 min UV irradiation to activate VO-LiYScGeO4: Bi3+ continuously released ultraviolet afterglow for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB), reaching a degradation efficiency of 63% within 1 h in Fenton environment, which increased by 3.5 folds when compared to that of LiYScGeO4: Bi3+ in the initial environment. This work provides a new approach for the design of afterglow photocatalysts and their application in wastewater treatment.

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Preparation of Na+/g-C3N4 Materials and Their Photocatalytic Degradation Mechanism on Methylene Blue
LI Qiushi, YIN Guangming, LÜ Weichao, WANG Huaiyao, LI Jinglin, YANG Hongguang, GUAN Fangfang
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2024, 39 (10): 1143-1150.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20240142
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Preparation of alkali metal doped g-C3N4 materials is an important branch in the research of g-C3N4 semiconductor photocatalytic materials. However, there is still lack of study on g-C3N4 materials revealing mechanisms in photosensitizer-assisted photocatalytic degradation. In this study, Na+ doped g-C3N4 photocatalysts (Na+/g-C3N4) were prepared using solution synthesis, calcination, and solvothermal reaction methods.The doped position of Na+ in g-C3N4 and photoelectric performance were determined. The changes of morphological, specific surface area, and pore size of Na+/g-C3N4 materials were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption and desorption experiments. In Na+/g-C3N4 materials, the Na+ loaded in a cyclic structure composed of three heptazine structural units, coordinating with N atoms. Na+/g-C3N4 changed the adsorption performance of g-C3N4, altered its bandgap width and position of conduction (valence) band, and increased its separation rate of photogenerated electrons and holes and charge transport rate of the material by affecting the π-conjugated system of g-C3N4. During the solvothermal reaction process for synthesis of Na+/g-C3N4, strong hydrolysis caused decomposition of unstable structures of g-C3N4 while the C-O- bonds were formed at the edge of g-C3N4. The physical and chemical adsorption sites for methylene blue (MB) of Na+/g-C3N4 materials are confirmed by π-conjugated system and C-O- bonds of Na+/g-C3N4, by which Na+/g-C3N4 materials can adsorb MB up to 93.25%, in contrast to the g-C3N4 materials’ adsorbtion only up to 24.50%. Under visible light irradiation, due to their strong adsorption capacity and photosensitivity to MB, Na+/g-C3N4 materials have constructed a unique photosensitive- photocatalytic degradation system with MB. MB not only acts as the photosensitizer for self degradation but also collaborates with Na+/g-C3N4 materials for photocatalytic degradation. At pH 6.0, the maximum degradation rate of MB is up to 96.40% in the photosensitive-photocatalytic system constructed with MB and Na+/g-C3N4 samples.

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Activated Sludge Incineration Ash Derived Fenton-like Catalyst: Preparation and Degradation Performance on Methylene Blue
CAI Mengyu, LI-YANG Hongmiao, YANG Caiyun, ZHOU Yuting, WU Hao
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2024, 39 (10): 1135-1142.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230580
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Fe@zeolite materials are widely applied in the production of ·OH by catalyzing Fenton-like reactions for degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants due to their comprehensive sources, simple preparation and low environmental impact. However, the high cost of Fe@zeolite synthesis and the lack of Fe2+ regeneration strategy are serious issues that limit the application of Fe@zeolite as a Fenton-like catalyst in industrial-scale systems. In this study, the ash generated from activated sludge incineration treatment was utilized as raw material to selective recover Si, Al and Fe, preparing Fe2+-sodalite (FSD) material. Consequently, it was used as a Fenton-like catalyst to activate peroxyacetic acid (PAA) for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in wastewater. Results indicated thatFSD was capable of effectively catalyzing PAA to generate various active oxygen species such as ·OH, 1O2 and R-O· in a wide pH range, thereby degrading MB through hydroxylation and sulfonation pathways. MB can be completely removed during 20 min under optimized conditions of 0.3 mmol/L PAA and 0.3 g/L FSD prepared with 0.5 mol/L Fe2+. In addition, the reductive S species in FSD can maintain its catalytical activity by enhancing Fe2+ regeneration, and the FSD/PAA system has been proven to be effective in the degradation of various organic pollutants under practical and complex environmental conditions.

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Sandwich Structured Ru@TiO2 Composite for Efficient Photocatalytic Tetracycline Degradation
WANG Zhaoyang, QIN Peng, JIANG Yin, FENG Xiaobo, YANG Peizhi, HUANG Fuqiang
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2024, 39 (4): 383-389.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230457
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TiO2 nanomaterials are widely used photocatalysts due to high photocatalytic activity, good chemical stability, low cost, and nontoxicity. However, its lower photon utilization efficiency is still limited by larger bandgap width and higher recombination rate between photon and hole. In this study, two-dimensional TiO2 nanosheets were synthesized via microetching, which were then inserted by ruthenium atoms to form an efficient photocatalyst Ru@TiO2 with sandwich structure. The surface morphology, electronic structure, photoelectric properties, and photocatalytic degradation performance of tetracycline hydrochloride of Ru@TiO2 sandwich structure were investigated using different measurements. Results indicated that the material’s photoresponse range extended from UV to visible- near-infrared regions, improving photon absorption and carrier separation efficiency while enhancing photocatalytic activity. Under simulated sunlight irradiation (AM 1.5 G, 100 mW·cm-2) for 80 min, sandwich structured Ru@TiO2 efficient photocatalyst exhibited superior degradation performance on tetracycline hydrochloride with a degradation efficiency up to 91.91%. This work offers an effective way for the construction of efficient TiO2 based photocatalysts.

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Enhanced Styrene Adsorption by Grafted Lactone-based Activated Carbon
WU Guangyu, SHU Song, ZHANG Hongwei, LI Jianjun
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2024, 39 (4): 390-398.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230473
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Activated carbon's porous nature and high specific surface area make it an effective tool for adsobing waste gas containing styrene. However, the mechanism by which oxygen-containing functional groups adsorb weak-polar styrene remains unclear. This study described the preparation of the modified activated carbon materials AC-S and AC-N using the acid leaching method. The pore structure and specific surface area of modified activated carbon, the evolution of oxygen-containing functional groups, and their impact on the styrene-adsorbing performance were investigated. The results demonstrated that acid modification significantly improved the styrene-adsorbing capacity of activated carbon. Physical and chemical adsorption impacted both modified and unmodified activated carbon materials, as determined by the adsorption kinetics studies and isotherm fitting analyses. Monolayer adsorption was more likely to occur on modified activated carbon. HNO3-modified activated carbon (AC-N) maintained its effective styrene adsorption pore size range. The increasing number of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface improved the styrene adsorption performance of AC-N. Study of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface revealed that lactone group was a key factor in improving the modified activated carbon's ability to adsorb styrene. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that lactone group on AC-N strongly interacted with the vinyl group in styrene, thereby enhancing the styrene adsorption performance of modified activated carbon.

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II/Z-type Bi2MoO6/Ag2O/Bi2O3 Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline under Visible Light Irradiation
YE Maosen, WANG Yao, XU Bing, WANG Kangkang, ZHANG Shengnan, FENG Jianqing
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2024, 39 (3): 321-329.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230408
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Construction of heterojunction can effectively suppress the swift recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes in photocatalyst. In this study, a II/Z-type Bi2MoO6/Ag2O/Bi2O3 heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized using a solvothermal method combined with calcination. Various techniques were ultilized to examine the composition, morphology and photoelectrochemical properties of the as-prepared materials. The findings revealed that the optimal composition of the composite material was 25%ABOBM (with a mass ratio of Ag2O/Bi2O3 and Bi2MoO6 of 1 : 4). Under visible light irradiation, the degradation efficiency of tetracycline (TC) by 25%ABOBM reached 85.6%, which was significantly higher than that of Ag2O/Bi2O3 and Bi2MoO6, and maintained its good stability after three cycles of experiments. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of 25%ABOBM is attributed to the formation of heterojunctions and the unique morphologies among Ag2O, Bi2O3 and Bi2MoO6. Both h+ and ·O2- are significant contributors, while ·OH and 1O2 have secondary roles in the degradation process of TC, as indicated by free radical capture experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). Furthermore, the related photocatalytic mechanisms were explored, and the potential degradation pathways of TC were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This study offers a novel approach to the preparation of photocatalysts with dual heterojunctions and demonstrates their application in the degrading organic pollutants.

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Visible-light Photodegradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride on Self-sensitive Carbon-nitride Microspheres Enhanced by SiO2
CAO Qingqing, CHEN Xiangyu, WU Jianhao, WANG Xiaozhuo, WANG Yixuan, WANG Yuhan, LI Chunyan, RU Fei, LI Lan, CHEN Zhi
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2024, 39 (7): 787-792.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20240009
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Photocatalysis is widely employed to treat emerging pollutants in water, due to its well-organized attributes. Self-sensitive carbon nitride (SSCN) represents a novel class of non-metallic photocatalyst that has garnered significant attention for its distinctive properties in contrast with traditional graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). However, their visible-light photodegradation effect remained still to be enhanced. Here, SiO2 microspheres were initially synthesized by the Stöber method, followed by the preparation of SiO2/SSCN composites through an in-situ hydrothermal process. Their microstructure, phase structure, and photoelectric properties were systematically investigated using a combination of characterization techniques. It is discovered that the SiO2 within the composites effectively disperses in the SSCN. The obtained composite material was then applied to photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic pollutants in water, exhibiting enhanced degradation activity, which was closely correlated with the quantity of SiO2. At mass ratio of SiO2 to SSCN of 0.04 : 1, the composite achieved optimal photocatalytic activity and demonstrated good stability. After irradiation for 60 min, 42% of tetracycline hydrochloride was degraded, and the photocatalytic degradation efficiency remained at 38% after 5 cycles. Furthermore, incorporation of the SiO2 component offers supplementary sites for the dispersion of SSCN, mitigating serious agglomeration phenomenon of SSCN. This facilitates the rapid decomposition of 1,3,5-triazine oligomers (TBO) on the surface of SSCN under light irradiation, and the optimizing content of TBO on surface active sites. Consequently, utilization efficiency of visible light on SSCN is significantly improved, and a higher separation rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs is simultaneously observed. These attributes culminate in significantly improved photocatalytic activity for the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride on SSCN under visible light irradiation. Above advantages may position the as-synthesized SiO2 dispersed SSCN as prospective candidate for practical application. Therefore, this research offers a novel route for enhancing the photocatalytic activity and stability of catalysts.

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S-type Heterojunction of MOS2/g-C3N4: Construction and Photocatalysis
MA Rundong, GUO Xiong, SHI Kaixuan, AN Shengli, WANG Ruifen, GUO Ruihua
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2023, 38 (10): 1176-1182.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230096
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Preparation of highly efficient and stable photocatalysts is crucial for the development of photocatalysis technology. In this study, the method of ultrasonic-assisted deposition and low-temperature calcination was used to prepare MoS2/g-C3N4 S-type heterojunction photocatalyst (MGCD). Effects of the phase structure, micro-morphology, optical absorption performance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemical AC impedance, and photocurrent of the materials on the photocatalytic activity were comprehensively investigated. The results show that, after ultrasonic-assisted deposition-calcination treatment, MoS2 microspheres were broken, dispersed and combined on the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets, and formed a kind of heterojunction. Under visible light, the degradation rate of 5%MGCD (with 5% MoS2 addition) for Rhodamine B (RhB) reached 99% in 20 min, and still reach 95.2% when the sample was reused for 5 times, showing good photocatalytic performance and stability. Further analysis from the point of view of the formation of built-in electric field shows that the band bending caused by built-in electric field, coupled with MoS2 and g-C3N4 in heterojunction, can effectively guide the directional migration of carriers, which can efficiently promote the separation of photogenerated carriers, thus improving the efficiency of photocatalytic reaction. Free radical capture experiment of heterojunction photocatalyst reveals that O2- and ·OH are the main active species in the catalytic degradation of RhB, followed by H+.

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Research Progress in Catalytic Total Oxidation of Methane
SUN Chen, ZHAO Kunfeng, YI Zhiguo
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2023, 38 (11): 1245-1256.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230117
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Methane is the second greenhouse gas contributing greatly to global warming, about 80 times of CO2. Considering background of global warming and atmospheric methane growth, to catalyze total oxidation of atmospheric methane is of great importance to mitigate greenhouse effects and slow this global warming. However, catalytic oxidation of methane has always been a big challenge due to its high structural stability. In this article, research progress in total oxidation of methane under thermal-, photo- and photothermal-catalysis was reviewed. High temperature in thermal catalysis increases the energy loss and accelerates the deactivation of catalysts speedingly. Therefore, development of catalysts that oxidize methane under moderate temperatures is the main research interests. Photocatalysis provides a way to eliminate methane at ambient conditions with the assistance of solar energy, but the reaction rates are lower than that in thermal catalysis. It is worth mentioning that photothermal catalysis, developed in recent years, can achieve efficiently catalytic total oxidation of methane under mild conditions, showing a high potential application prospect. This article reviews development of three modes of catalysis, analyzes their different reaction mechanisms, advantages and disadvantages under different reaction conditions. Finally, prospects and challenges of this catalytic total oxidation are pointed out, which is expected to provide references for future research on this field.

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α-Ni(OH)2 Surface Hydroxyls Synergize Ni3+ Sites for Catalytic Formaldehyde Oxidation
ZHANG Ruiyang, WANG Yi, OU Bowen, ZHOU Ying
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2023, 38 (10): 1216-1222.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230161
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Indoor formaldehyde (HCHO) pollution has become one of the major issues affecting human health. Catalytic formaldehyde oxidation technology employing oxygen as oxidant has received extensive attention owing to its mild conditions and nontoxic byproducts, but developing affordable and effective catalysts remains a significant hurdle. In this work, α-Ni(OH)2 was prepared through one-step hydrothermal method and its catalytic formaldehyde oxidation mechanism was investigated. The greatest catalytic formaldehyde elimination rate of 71.2% was demonstrated by α-Ni(OH)2 at room temperature, which was made with water as the solvent and nickel nitrate as the nickel source. In situ DRIFTS and theoretical calculations revealed that, due to abundant hydroxyl functional groups on the surface of α-Ni(OH)2, there was strong interaction between adsorbed formaldehyde and hydroxyl group on the surface of α-Ni(OH)2, which promoted formaldehyde activation and achieved oxidation of formaldehyde without oxygen. On the other hand, the XPS spectra of α-Ni(OH)2 treated under different conditions confirmed that the active sites of catalytic formaldehyde oxidation were Ni3+, and oxygen accelerated the recovery of Ni3+ active sites. The surface hydroxyl group of α-Ni(OH)2 cooperated with the Ni3+ active sites achieved excellent catalytic efficiency of formaldehyde oxidation, which was obviously different from the traditional formaldehyde oxidation path with oxygen dissociation as the speed control step. Our work presents a new formaldehyde oxidation pathway controlled by synergy of surface hydroxyl and active sites, and offers a theoretical foundation for the actual use of catalytic formaldehyde oxidation.

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Adsorption Mechanism of NaY Zeolite Molecular Adsorber Coating on Typical Space Contaminations
DAI Jieyan, FENG Aihu, MI Le, YU Yang, CUI Yuanyuan, YU Yun
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2023, 38 (10): 1237-1244.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230095
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In a high vacuum environment, some organic molecular pollutants such as hydrocarbon and siloxane are released by spacecraft materials and deposited on the surface of the sensitive parts of spacecraft devices, which has become an important adverse factor restricting the development of long-life and high-performance spacecraft. Zeolite molecular adsorber coating can effectively collect spatial contaminations in real time, but the adsorption mechanism is not clear. To deeply analyze the adsorption mechanism of zeolite on the spatial contaminations, the adsorption behaviors of NaY zeolite including adsorption isotherms, adsorption heat curves and density distributions on three typical contaminations, toluene(C7H8), dimethyl phthalate (C10H10O4), octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane (C8H24O4Si4), were calculated by the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo method in this work. The NaY zeolites and pollutant models were successfully constructed, and the rationality of the models was verified by comparing simulated data with experimental ones. These results indicated that all three classic molecules can be adsorbed by NaY zeolite in the ultra-high vacuum condition. The saturated adsorption capacity decreases in the order of C7H8>C10H10O4>C8H24O4Si4, which is significantly related to the molecule sizes and structures of contaminations. The saturated adsorption amount of C8H24O4Si4 is relatively low (8 per cell) when that of C7H8 is 36 per cell. In addition, the density distributions indicates that different contaminations are preferentially adsorbed inside the super-cage of NaY zeolite. Overall, this work analyzes the adsorption mechanism of NaY zeolite on typical contaminations, and can provide basic insights for the development of zeolite molecular adsorber coating with high adsorption capacity.

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PEI Modified Hydrated Calcium Silicate Derived from Fly Ash and Its adsorption for Removal of Cu (II) and Catalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants
TANG Ya, SUN Shengrui, FAN Jia, YANG Qingfeng, DONG Manjiang, KOU Jiahui, LIU Yangqiao
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2023, 38 (11): 1281-1291.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230209
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With the rapid development of industry, copper metal pollution in wastewater discharged from related manufacturing fields has become increasingly serious.Meanwhile, demand for copper metal resources in the field of catalysis is increasing. In this study, low-cost modified calcium silicate hydrate (PCSH) was prepared using fly ash and modifier polyethyleneimine (PEI) for the adsorption of heavy metal copper ions(Cu(II)) in aqueous solution, and then the Cu(II), immobilized on the surface, was further treated with alkali to form copper-based active material for catalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Compared with unmodified sample (CSH), the maximum adsorption capacity of PCSH for Cu(II) was increased by 100% with the maximum of 588 mg/g. The main reason was that the addition of PEI facilitated formation of larger specific surface area, excellent pore structure and strong complexation between Cu(II) and -NH2. The copper-based catalysts, which obtained from PCSH exhibiting spindle-shaped porous morphology, could catalyze the oxidative degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) by activating potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by activating sodium borohydride (NaBH4), with rate constants of 0.7135/min (pH (7.0±0.3); [RhB]= 20 mg/L; [PMS]= 0.12 g/L; [catalyst]= 0.8 g/L) and 11.47×10-3/s (pH (11.0±0.3); [4-NP]= 10-4 mol/L; [NaBH4]= 5×10-3 mol/L; [catalyst]= 0.167 g/L), respectively, about 20 and 19 times as large as those of CSH catalyst system, respectively. The present work achieves the reuse of copper element in aqueous solution by using solid waste fly ash, which provides new insights into effective treatment and utilization of pollutants in water.

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Visible-light Catalytic Performance of ITO/TiO2 Nanotube Array Composite
WANG Mengtao, SUO Jun, FANG Dong, YI Jianhong, LIU Yichun, Olim RUZIMURADOV
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2023, 38 (11): 1292-1300.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20230178
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Photocatalysis has received extensive attention due to its advantages of mild reaction conditions and direct conversion of solar energy to chemical energy. Improving the solar absorption range and reducing the recombination of photo-generated “electron-hole” pairs are the hot topics in the field of photocatalysis. In this work, the amorphous TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2NTs) were prepared by anodic oxidation, and indium-tin (In-Sn) alloy was pressed into the amorphous TiO2NTs by a mechanical hydraulic method to make In9.45Sn1/TiO2NTs, then the In9.45Sn1/TiO2NTs were annealed in air to obtain indium tin oxide (ITO)/TiO2NTs. The photocatalytic properties of the obtained TiO2NTs, In9.45Sn1/TiO2NTs and ITO/TiO2NTs on the removal of methylene blue in aqueous solution were studied and compared. After 180 min visible light irradiation, the degradation efficiency of the ITO/TiO2NTs reaches 96.14%. The applying UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) to explore the optical adsorption abilities of the samples shows the strongest absorbance of ITO/TiO2NTs. Combining the results of transient photocurrent responses, photocurrent density-potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Mott-Schottky plots, the ITO/TiO2NTs have higher charge transfer capability and donor density than do other samples, which can reduce the recombination of holes and electrons, thus improving the visible-light catalytic performance. After five cycles, the degradation rate of the ITO/TiO2NTs still maintains 90.28%. Results of free radicals trapping experiments reveal that •O2- and •OH are the main active substances for the photocatalytic degradation.

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Adsorption of Arsenate in Water by Zirconia-halloysite Nanotube Material
GUO Chunxia, CHEN Weidong, YAN Shufang, ZHAO Xueping, YANG Ao, MA Wen
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2023, 38 (5): 529-536.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20220576
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Drinking water contaminated with arsenic for a long time will inevitably lead to serious human health problems. Suitable adsorbent for arsenic removal from water is an urgent but a challenging task. In this study, halloysite nanotubes-supported ZrO2 (ZrO2/HNT), a novel and efficient arsenate adsorbent, was prepared using a straightforward hydrothermal method. Its morphology and structure were characterized. ZrO2 nanoparticles with monoclinic phase were well dispersed on the outer walls of halloysite nanotubes. And the ZrO2/HNT could effectively remove As(V), achieving adsorption equilibrium within 30 min. The saturation As(V) adsorption capacity was 27.46 mg/g at 25 ℃. Its adsorption capacity decreased with the increase of the solution’s pH. Coexistent ions (except phosphate) showed little effect on adsorption performance of As(V). The As(V) adsorption kinetics fitted well with pseudo-second-order modeland the As(V) removal processes were endothermic which was verified as chemisorption reactions based on calculation of Gibbs free energy and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm model. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) study indicated that the As(V) adsorption processes mainly proceeded through ligand exchange between As(V) and hydroxyl groups on the surface of ZrO2 in the ZrO2/HNT and formation of inner-sphere surface complexes. This study suggest that the as-synthesized ZrO2/ HNT is a potential candidate for practical applications of As(V) removal from water.

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Pb (II) Adsorption Process of Fe3O4 Supported Ti3C2Tx
WANG Shiyi, FENG Aihu, LI Xiaoyan, YU Yun
Journal of Inorganic Materials    2023, 38 (5): 521-528.   DOI: 10.15541/jim20220627
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Ti3C2Tx MXene is a potential adsorbent of heavy metal ions due to its two-dimensional layered structure and abundant surface functional groups. However, it has disadvantages of limited layer spacing and poor stability in aqueous solution. Here, the modification strategy of Ti3C2Tx was explored to improve its chemical stability and ion adsorption capacity among which Fe3O4-Ti3C2Tx(FeMX) adsorbent with different doping amounts of Fe3O4 were prepared by one-step hydrothermal method. The results showed that the maximum theoretical Pb(II) adsorption capacity of FeMX adsorbent could reach 210.54 mg/g. Its adsorption mechanism was further revealed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles were evenly dispersed and intercalated between Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, which effectively increased specific surface area and layer spacing of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets, leading to improving Pb(II) removal ability. Therefore, this study provides a promising route for developing MXene matrix composites with excellent heavy metal ion adsorption properties.

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