Carbon Gels-Modified TiO2: Promising Materials for Photocatalysis Applications

Abstract

Carbon gels are a kind of porous organic polymer, which play pivotal roles in electrode, supercapacitor, hydrogen storage, and catalysis. Carbon gels are commonly prepared by the condensation of resorcinol and formaldehyde. The as-prepared polymers are further aged and sintered at a high temperature in an inert atmosphere to form cross-linked and intertwined porous structures. Owing to its large specific area and narrow pore size distribution, this kind of material is very appropriate for mass transfer, substrate absorption, and product desorption from the pores. In recent years, carbon gels have been discovered to function as effective hybrid materials with TiO2 for photocatalytic applications. They could act as efficient deep-traps for photo-induced holes, which decreases the recombination probability of photo-induced carriers and lengthens their lifetime. In this mini-review, we will discuss the state-of-the-art paragon examples of carbon gels/TiO2 composite materials applied in photo(electro)catalysis. The major challenges and gaps of its application in this field will also be emphasized.

The Influence of Light Irradiation on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants

“…Therefore, the influence of the irradiation light on the photocatalytic performance of various semiconductors must be studied because it can provide a basis for a further understanding of the photocatalysis principles. Additionally, there must be a balance between energy consumption and photocatalytic efficiency in order to properly design a photocatalytic technology [1][2][3].…”

Catalytic Composite Systems Based on N-Doped TiO2/Polymeric Materials for Visible-Light-Driven Pollutant Degradation: A Mini Review

“…Therefore, starting from the interesting results observed for carbon-gel-modified TiO 2 [72], polymeric aerogels have attracted tremendous attention in recent years due to their very high specific surface area and recoverability after the treatment step as a consequence of their macroscopic size [73].…”

Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Membranes for Photocatalytic Water Remediation

“…Photocatalysis is a great approach as an efficient and sustainable oxidation technology for application in wastewater treatment due to be considered a simple, green and rapid progress that consume short amounts of energy [22,23]. TiO2 graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4), carbon gels-modified TiO2 or graphene-based membranes are just some examples of materials employed in the photodegradation of pollutants [24][25][26][27][28], including under visible-light irradiation [29]. However, suspended photocatalysts present some drawbacks that increase the use of them supported in membranes Even if the suspended photocatalysts show a higher surface area, leading to higher photocatalytic efficiency, their recovery from the reaction media is considered their main disadvantage.…”