TY - JOUR
T1 - Environment-Friendly Carbon Quantum Dots/ZnFe2O4Photocatalysts: Characterization, Biocompatibility, and Mechanisms for NO Removal
AU - Huang, Yu
AU - Liang, Yanling
AU - Rao, Yongfang
AU - Zhu, Dandan
AU - Cao, Jun Ji
AU - Shen, Zhenxing
AU - Ho, Wingkei
AU - Lee, Shuncheng
PY - 2017/3/7
Y1 - 2017/3/7
N2 - A highly efficient and environmentally-friendly oxidation process is always desirable for air purification. This study reported a novel carbon quantum dots (CQDs)/ZnFe2O4composite photocatalyst for the first time through a facile hydrothermal process. The CQDs/ZnFe2O4(15 vol %) composite demonstrates stronger transient photocurrent response, approximately 8 times higher than that of ZnFe2O4, indicating superior transfer efficiency of photogenerated electrons and separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Compared with pristine ZnFe2O4nanoparticles, CQDs/ZnFe2O4displayed enhanced photocatalytic activities on gaseous NOxremoval and high selectivity for nitrate formation under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. Electron spin resonance analysis and a series of radical-trapping experiments showed that the reactive species contributing to NO elimination were ·O2-and ·OH radicals. The possible mechanisms were proposed regarding how CQDs improve the photocatalytic performance of ZnFe2O4. The CQDs are believed to act as an electron reservoir and transporter as well as a powerful energy-transfer component during the photocatalysis processes over CQDs/ZnFe2O4samples. Furthermore, the toxicity assessment authenticated good biocompatibility and low cytotoxity of CQDs/ZnFe2O4. The results of this study indicate that CQDs/ZnFe2O4is a promising photocatalyst for air purification. (Chemical Equation Presented).
AB - A highly efficient and environmentally-friendly oxidation process is always desirable for air purification. This study reported a novel carbon quantum dots (CQDs)/ZnFe2O4composite photocatalyst for the first time through a facile hydrothermal process. The CQDs/ZnFe2O4(15 vol %) composite demonstrates stronger transient photocurrent response, approximately 8 times higher than that of ZnFe2O4, indicating superior transfer efficiency of photogenerated electrons and separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Compared with pristine ZnFe2O4nanoparticles, CQDs/ZnFe2O4displayed enhanced photocatalytic activities on gaseous NOxremoval and high selectivity for nitrate formation under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation. Electron spin resonance analysis and a series of radical-trapping experiments showed that the reactive species contributing to NO elimination were ·O2-and ·OH radicals. The possible mechanisms were proposed regarding how CQDs improve the photocatalytic performance of ZnFe2O4. The CQDs are believed to act as an electron reservoir and transporter as well as a powerful energy-transfer component during the photocatalysis processes over CQDs/ZnFe2O4samples. Furthermore, the toxicity assessment authenticated good biocompatibility and low cytotoxity of CQDs/ZnFe2O4. The results of this study indicate that CQDs/ZnFe2O4is a promising photocatalyst for air purification. (Chemical Equation Presented).
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015283886&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acs.est.6b04460
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.6b04460
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28145696
SN - 0013-936X
VL - 51
SP - 2924
EP - 2933
JO - Environmental Science and Technology
JF - Environmental Science and Technology
IS - 5
ER -