Photocatalysis and Electrocatalysis

An Overview of the Application of Nitrides and Oxynitrides in Photocatalysis and Electrocatalysis... 

One of the most prominent feature of polypyridine complexes is that they can be easily oxidized and reduced both photochemically and electrochemically. This opens an enormous potential for applications in photocatalysis (Section 5.4.9) and electrocatalysis. 

A newly-designed photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reactor for CO2 reduction, which combines photocatalysis by Ti02 and electrocatalysis by carbon nanotubes (CNT), has recently been proposed (Fig. 7) [152]. A proton-conductive Nafion membrane connects the Ti02 and CNT. Irradiation of the combined system of nano-structured Ti02 deposited on a metal Ti electrode with Pt modified CNT deposited on carbon sheet caused water splitting to H2 and O2. A half-cell for the cathodic electrode, i.e., Pt or Fe modified CNT electrode, produces various organic molecules such as 2-propanol due to electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 on the electrode. The proposed PEC reactor is incomplete in its present state. However, these systems are expected to couple water splitting and CO2 reduction, and thus it may establish a new artificial photosynthetic system. 

The second part of the book compiles some practical aspects of metal oxides, with emphasis in catalytic applications. Metal oxides represent an expanding class of compounds with a wide range applications in several areas such as materials science and catalysis, chemical sensing, microelectronics, nanotechnology, environmental decontamination, analytical chemistry, solid-state chemistry, and fuel cells. Our basic knowledge on the metal oxide chemistry is relatively far from that for metals, and as yet, little is known about fundamental relationships between reactivity of oxide compounds and their chemical compositions, crystal structures, and electronic properties at the surface. When examining the importance of metal oxides, and specifically TMOs, in several reactions such as dehydration, selective oxidations, olefin metathesis, VOCs removal, photocatalysis, water splitting, and electrocatalysis, attempts will be made in order to connect properties of the oxides and their reactivity. Since the catalytic phenomenon is confined to the external surface of the solids where molecules or atoms interact, the study of this interaction... 

Chapter 16 Application to Electrocatalysis and Photocatalysis and Surface Interrogation.525... 

Different from the two above-mentioned catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis does not involve extra substance (such as photos, electrons), and all the behaviors performed in the reaction are done by the catalyst itself. A review of hterature shows that the amount of works reporting the application of perovskite catalyst in heterogeneous catalysis is far more than that in photocatalysis or in electrocatalysis. Possible reasons could be the various reactions in heterogeneous catalysis and no restriction for the catalyst is required at this time, which is different from that for Photocatalysis or Electrocatalysis, where special properties, such as negative energy level, high-electronic and ionic conductivities are usually required. 

Sviridov, Dmitry V. he obtained his Ph.D. (1987) and D.Sc. (1999) degrees in Physical Chemistry from Belarussian State University (BSU). He currently holds an appointment of Professor of Chemistry at BSU and Principle Investigator in the Institute for Physico-Chemical Problems, BSU, Minsk, Belarus Republic. His scientific interests include photoelectrochemistry of semiconductors and molecular aggregates, electrocatalysis and environmental photocatalysis. E-mail ... 

The efficient utilization of C02 has attracted considerable attention from fundamental research to industrial application in recent years. Heterogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis are presently the three predominant chemical methods for converting C02 into some useful chemicals, such as methanol, formic... 

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