3D TiO2 self-acting system based on dye-sensitized solar cell and g-C3N4/TiO2-MIP to enhanced photodegradation performance. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rezaei, Behzad; Irannejad, Neda; Ensafi, Ali A.
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 123(2018)
• Page Start: 281
• Page End: 293
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Nano-flower like TiO2 -- Dye sensitized solar cell -- Photodegradation -- Self-propulsion system -- Methyl violet; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.02.042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: To allow high photocatalytic activity under solar light irradiation, TiO2 nanoflowers (NF-TiO2 ) have been synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method. The most noticeable aspect of the newly synthesized NF-TiO2 is significant reduction in the bandgap energy which increased the ability to absorb light in the visible region. Using NF-TiO2 on the FTO as a photoanode of the DSSC (at best composition, NF-3.0 TiO2 ), achieves a total photoelectric conversion efficiency of 4.9%. Improvement in the performance of DSSC can be attributed to the effective absorption of sensitizer molecules in the presence of NF-TiO2, high light harvesting ability, reduction of grain boundaries and the bulk defects in TiO2, followed by the reduction of charge transfer resistance. By using NF-3.0 TiO2 on OR, 97.0% of methyl violet (MV) pollutant decomposes in the presence of sunlight in 280 min. To achieve an efficient system for the degradation of pollutant, bifunctionalized NF-TiO2 film is also used. In the new strategy, one part of the film is used as dye-sensitized zone (which acts as a DSSC(, and the other as a degradation zone. The results show a significant degradation of about 99.0% at 160 min. Ultimately, to improve the degradation zone molecularly imprinted polymers coated with Co-doped g-C3 N4 /TiO2 nanocomposite were used. Highlights: Self-propulsion system was used to eliminate pollutants in the shortest possible time. Nanoflower like TiO2 was directly synthesized via hydrothermal method. Its band gap energy has dropped considerably (Eg = 1.2 eV). With using MIP, degradation of Methyl violet was more than 98% for 80 min.