Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Reforming of Biomass

CeO2 nanoarray decorated Ce-doped ZnO nanowire photoanode for efficient hydrogen production with glycerol as a sacrificial agent

“…18,19 Glycerol, the main by-product of the biodiesel industry, is considered a promising sacrificial agent, owing to its nontoxicity and structure with three hydroxyl groups. [20][21][22] Moreover, it is regarded as a difficult-to-treat waste because its demand is limited. Therefore, PEC water splitting using glycerol, which has a lower kinetic barrier than water oxidation, would be a beneficial strategy for H 2 production and pollutant elimination.…”

“…Among the photocatalytic semiconductors, zinc oxide (ZnO) has recently been highlighted as a suitable material for photoconversion, owing to its high absorption properties, low cost, high electron mobility, and excellent stability (in alkaline media). [22][23][24] In particular, a ZnO nanowire (NW) structure with a high aspect ratio can enhance the photocatalytic properties by offering a large surface area and pathway during the PEC reaction. 25 However, the drawbacks of ZnO, such as its large bandgap (∼3.2 eV) and low charge separation rate, limit its utilization as a photocatalyst.…”

Photoreforming of Waste Polymers for Sustainable Hydrogen Fuel and Chemicals Feedstock: Waste to Energy

“…On the other hand, the Δ G ° change for many common polymeric waste materials such as glucose, a component of biomass (Δ G ° = −84.7 kJ mol –1 ), or ethylene glycol, a component of polyethylene terephthalate plastic (Δ G ° = +9.2 kJ mol –1 ) by PR is lower than that of water splitting (Δ G ° = +237 kJ mol –1 ). This shows that H 2 production by PR can be more efficient than by water splitting. ,,, These thermodynamic factors give a lower limit for the specific energy consumption and thus for the lowest costs of the PR process . However, the industrially used technologies for converting waste into fuels by gasification and pyrolysis are endothermic and require higher temperatures for the conversion of plastics, biomass, and other polymers into valuable products such as synthesis gas (in gasification) and synthetic crude oil (in pyrolysis).…”

Enhancement of Sulfur Source-Dependent Zn Vacancies in Different Photocatalytic Performances of ZnIn2S4 Nanoparticles

“…Subsequently, the selective oxidation pathways of HMF were analyzed based on the two ZnIn 2 S 4 NPs and irradiation wavelengths. 37 Figure 2c,d shows the formation and consumption of intermediates essential for the formation of FDCA during HMF oxidation at 365 and 445 nm, respectively, in the presence of the two ZnIn 2 S 4 NPs. The concentration profiles show that FDCA formed in two distinct steps: A (yellow region) and B (violet region).…”