A free-standing 3D nano-composite photo-electrode—Ag/ZnO nanorods arrays on Ni foam effectively degrade berberine
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62) › 21_Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
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Detail(s)
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 179-191 |
Journal / Publication | Chemical Engineering Journal |
Volume | 373 |
Online published | 7 May 2019 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2019 |
Link(s)
Abstract
Berberine is a widely used antibiotic in China, its photocatalytic degradation is not well understood nor its efficient treatment reported. In this study, it is most quickly and efficiently degraded (97.9% under UV and 98.9% under visible light) using a free-standing 3D composite photo-electrode, with well dispersed Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) over well-aligned ZnO nanorods arrays (ZnO NAs) on Ni foam (NiF), compared to ZnO NAs/NiF, ZnO powder and P25. The composite photo-electrode was prepared by first directly growing ZnO NAs on NiF hydrothermally, followed by photo-deposition of Ag NPs, without any inactive binders or non-conductive substrates. It was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis) and electrochemical analysis (I-t, EIS). The highest activity of Ag NPs/ZnO NAs/NiF in degrading the target pollutant, is due to the synergy of easy pollutants diffusion and fast reaction on active sites, from suppressed electron-hole recombination by Ag NPs/ZnO NAs heterojunctions, extended light absorption by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag NPs and accelerated electron transport on the conductive macro-porous NiF. The reactive oxidizing species (•OH, •O2−, h±), degradation intermediates and possible degradation pathways of berberine over Ag NPs/ZnO NAs/NiF were examined respectively. This free-standing whole piece photo-electrode with UV–visible light response, is easy to recycle and assemble, that not only degrades pollutant, but also generates electricity as photo-anode in a photo-catalytic fuel cell reactor using carbon fiber cloth as cathode.
Research Area(s)
- Ag nanoparticles, Berberine, Ni foam, Photocatalysis, ZnO nanorods arrays
Citation Format(s)
A free-standing 3D nano-composite photo-electrode—Ag/ZnO nanorods arrays on Ni foam effectively degrade berberine. / Zhang, Yizhen; Liu, Lifen; Van der Bruggen, Bart; Leung, Michael K.H.; Yang, Fenglin.
In: Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 373, 01.10.2019, p. 179-191.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62) › 21_Publication in refereed journal › peer-review