Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering最新文献

{"title":"Ru-Modulated Pt-Based Catalysts for Electrochemical Oxidation of Dihydroxybenzenes in Direct Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier Fuel Cells","authors":"Ha Neul Baek,&nbsp;KyoungHyun Jang,&nbsp;Taeho Lim","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00475-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00475-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The rising global energy demand and the imperative to mitigate climate change have accelerated the search for alternative energy carriers. Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) offer a promising solution for hydrogen storage and transport due to their high stability and compatibility with existing infrastructure. However, conventional LOHC-based hydrogen fuel cells rely on high-temperature catalytic dehydrogenation for hydrogen release, adding complexity and limiting their practicality. A direct LOHC fuel cell, which utilizes LOHCs as fuels without requiring separate hydrogen extraction, presents an alternative approach by simplifying system architecture and enhancing safety. Among potential LOHC candidates, phenol-based compounds have garnered interest due to their electrochemical reversibility, enabling direct oxidation at the anode. However, the electrochemical oxidation of dihydroxybenzenes (DHBs), a subclass of phenols, generates phenoxy radicals that undergo electropolymerization, leading to electrode deactivation. To address this challenge, we systematically investigate the oxidation behavior of three DHB isomers—catechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone—at high concentrations and develop an electrodeposited PtRu alloy catalyst tailored to mitigate polymerization. Our results reveal distinct electrochemical behaviors among the isomers, with significant variations in polymeric film formation on the electrode surface. Notably, Ru incorporation into Pt effectively suppresses polymer formation while enhancing catalytic activity and durability. The optimized PtRu catalyst exhibits improved electrochemical performance and stability, demonstrating its viability as an anode material for direct LOHC fuel cells. These findings underscore the critical role of Ru in enhancing catalytic efficiency and durability, providing valuable insights for the rational design of electrocatalysts for direct LOHC fuel cells.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 11","pages":"2649 - 2659"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144923184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"3D Graphene-Coupled Aerogel Nanoarchitectures: Emerging Paradigm Toward Sustainable Applications in Fuel Cell","authors":"Siti Hasanah Osman,&nbsp;Siti Kartom Kamarudin,&nbsp;Mohd Harris Jamil,&nbsp;Enggar Alfianto,&nbsp;Norazuwana Shaari,&nbsp;Zulfirdaus Zakaria","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00470-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00470-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Graphene aerogel (GA) is an ultra-lightweight material with high porosity, exceptional mechanical strength, and excellent electrical conductivity, making it highly attractive for a wide range of applications, including energy storage, electronics, and environmental remediation. Over the past two decades, advancements in the synthesis and functionalization of GA have led to significant innovations in fuel cell technology, particularly in enhancing catalytic activity, mass transport, and structural stability. The three-dimensional (3D) network morphology of graphene-based aerogels provides a large surface area, interconnected porous structure, and tunable properties, which are critical for optimizing fuel cell performance. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of GA applications in fuel cell systems, focusing on its role in key components such as the anode, cathode, catalyst support, and membrane. By leveraging its unique properties, GA has demonstrated remarkable potential in improving fuel cell efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing sustainability. For instance, GA-based catalysts have shown comparable or superior performance to conventional platinum-based catalysts (Pt/C), while significantly reducing the reliance on expensive and scarce precious metals. Beyond its technical advantages, the adoption of GA in fuel cell technology aligns with global sustainability efforts, particularly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action). By enabling cleaner energy conversion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, GA contributes to the transition toward a low-carbon economy and mitigating climate change impacts. This study also highlights the challenges in scaling up GA production, ensuring long-term durability, and achieving cost-effectiveness for commercial applications. Furthermore, it explores future opportunities for optimizing GA-based fuel cells through advanced synthesis techniques, novel functionalization strategies, and integration with other nanomaterials. By addressing these challenges and leveraging its unique properties, GA has the potential to revolutionize fuel cell technology and pave the way for next-generation sustainable energy solutions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 10","pages":"2131 - 2151"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145162110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Noncatalytic Solid-State Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride with Sodium Metaborate Hydrate","authors":"Geo Jong Kim,&nbsp;Savannah G. Hunt,&nbsp;Allison Millspaugh,&nbsp;Byeong Uk Kim,&nbsp;Sang Bum Kim,&nbsp;Hyun Tae Hwang","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00473-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00473-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Due to the rapid depletion of fossil fuels and pollution from their use, finding an alternative fuel is becoming increasingly important. Hydrogen is considered one of the best contenders, as its by-product is water. However, safe methods to store hydrogen must be developed to use hydrogen as an effective energy carrier or source. Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄, SBH) has been attracting great attention as a hydrogen storage material because of its relatively high hydrogen content and low material cost. Hydrogen can be produced through thermolysis or hydrolysis of SBH. Unfortunately, thermolysis requires extremely high temperatures (&gt; 300 °C), while hydrolysis needs an excessive amount of water because the solubilities of SBH and the spent fuel in water are low. In addition, when SBH is present with water, it can cause problems in safety and storage due to the spontaneous generation of hydrogen. In our prior work, it has been demonstrated that solid-state hydrolysis of SBH offers improved safety and high hydrogen yield. Despite these favorable outcomes, separating the products to regenerate spent fuel to lower the overall cost remains challenging. Here, we proposed the hydrolysis of SBH and water formed by thermal dehydration of sodium metaborate tetrahydrate (NaBO₂ 4H₂O, SMB4H). Since the mixture of SBH and SMB4H is stable at ambient conditions, the safety risk due to self-hydrolysis of SBH is eliminated. Additionally, since the final products are homogeneous with sodium metaborate (NaBO₄·<i>x</i>H₂O, SMB), a product of the hydrolysis of SBH, it is expected that separation cost can be saved when regenerating the spent fuel. Using this approach, maximum overall H₂ yields of 4.7 and 5.1wt% were obtained at 200 and 250 °C, respectively. With high hydrogen yield and safety and potential reduction in separating process costs during regeneration, this proposed method is promising for hydrogen storage for fuel cell applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 11","pages":"2701 - 2711"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144923200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancements in Long-term Safety Evaluation Technology for Engineered Barrier System (EBS): A Comprehensive Review of Korea’s High-Level Waste Disposal R&D Program","authors":"Jin-Seop Kim,&nbsp;Changsoo Lee,&nbsp;Seok Yoon,&nbsp;Minsoo Lee,&nbsp;Young Ho Lee,&nbsp;Ji-Won Kim,&nbsp;Minhyeong Lee,&nbsp;Yohan Cha,&nbsp;Jung-Tae Kim,&nbsp;Chang-Ho Hong,&nbsp;Taehyung Park,&nbsp;Minseop Kim,&nbsp;Taehyun Kim,&nbsp;Seong-Jun Ha,&nbsp;Kwang-Il Kim,&nbsp;Saeha Kwon,&nbsp;Seungbeom Choi,&nbsp;Yonghyeon Lee,&nbsp;Jang-Soon Kwon","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00466-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00466-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Korea has officially initiated the development of an underground research laboratory (URL) at a depth of 500 m to facilitate a full-scale demonstration of high-level radioactive waste disposal technology. With the establishment of the URL, validating the long-term performance of the engineered barrier system (EBS) under deep geological conditions has become a critical priority. This paper presents Korea’s research plans and technological advancements in the long-term safety evaluations of EBS, a key component of a recently launched multi-ministerial R&amp;D project for spent nuclear fuel management. The primary objective of this project is to assess the long-term integrity of EBS by analyzing coupled interactions with the disposal system as the real disposal environment evolves. The research is divided into four key areas: (1) establishing performance criteria for engineered barrier materials, (2) characterizing interactions among EBS components, (3) investigating coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC) behaviors, and (4) developing core technologies for in situ validation of EBS performance and coupled interactions. This nine-year project (2021–2029) is currently in its second phase(2024–2026), focusing on engineering-scale experiments, numerical model development, and preparation for large-scale field demonstration in the third phase. The outcomes of this study are expected to enhance the scientific basis for safety assessments and licensing in a disposal repository, as well as serve as a bridge for full-scale research at actual disposal depths utilizing URLs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 6","pages":"1301 - 1316"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11814-025-00466-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bio-inspired Fabrication of SLS-MWCNTs Multifunctional Composite Membrane with Bionic Coating for Efficient Separation of Complex Oily Wastewater","authors":"Wen An,&nbsp;Jiong Li,&nbsp;Guoyong Du,&nbsp;Chunping Deng,&nbsp;Wenxin Ma","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00471-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00471-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Industrial development has led to the generation of large amounts of oily wastewater, which poses significant threats to both environment and human health. These wastewater streams often contain various pollutants, such as organic dyes and heavy metal ions, creating an urgent need for multifunctional materials capable of efficiently separating these contaminants. In this study, we deposited sodium lignosulfonate (SLS)-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer membranes by vacuum filtration. Subsequently, a hydrophilic bio-inspired coating, consisting of pyrogallic acid (PG) and silane-coupling agent (KH550), was deposited on the membrane surface. The resulting composite membrane exhibited exceptional superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity. This membrane demonstrated high efficiency in separating various oil–water emulsions, with a separation efficiency reaching 99% and a stable separation flux maintained above 350 L m⁻² h⁻¹. The SLS-modified MWCNTs provided the membrane with abundant adsorption active sites, enabling excellent removal of cationic dyes and heavy metal ions. The removal rates of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) exceeded 92% and 95%, respectively, while the adsorption capacities for Cu(II) and Pb(II) were 38.7 mg g⁻¹ and 46.8 mg g⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, the composite membrane demonstrated outstanding chemical stability and durability under highly acidic, alkaline, and 5% NaCl salt solution conditions. Consequently, the SLS-MWCNTs@P/K-MF composite membrane holds great promise for the treatment of complex oily wastewater in extreme environments and has significant potential for remediation of wastewater contamination.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 6","pages":"1317 - 1330"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Performance of Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells Based on the Air Cathode of Hydrophobicity of Carbon Black/Polytetrafluoroethylene Gas Diffusion Layer","authors":"Hongrui Cao,&nbsp;Jin Sun,&nbsp;Mingyang Hu,&nbsp;Qing Feng,&nbsp;Zejie Wang","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00468-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00468-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The effect of hydrophobicity of the gas diffusion layer on the performance of a single-chamber microbial fuel cell was investigated. The R4 (3:1) reactor showed the best performance with a maximum power density of 1431 ± 80.3 mW m⁻² and a coulombic efficiency of 45%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the gap between carbon black particles increased with decreasing PTFE ratio. Electrochemical analysis showed that the activated carbon/stainless-steel mesh/(CB/PTFE) electrode performed the best with the highest current density of 8.09 A m⁻². High-performance recovery (88%) of the contaminated electrode was achieved using lysozyme (5%) remediation method. In addition, the R4 (3:1) electrode was the most suitable choice as an air cathode for SC-MFC, with a fabrication cost of 17.71 $ m⁻². In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the preparation and optimization of air cathodes for MFCs, which can contribute to the development of future MFC technologies. </p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 8","pages":"1769 - 1781"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145169192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual-Wavelength Sensor System for Fluorescence Detection of Bacillus subtilis Endospores","authors":"Bonghyun Jo,&nbsp;Youngwon Ju,&nbsp;Hee-Won Shin,&nbsp;Joohoon Kim,&nbsp;You Jin Jeong,&nbsp;Tae Kyu Ahn,&nbsp;Hyun Suk Jung","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00442-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00442-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Biological threats to military and civilian sectors underscore the need for compact, cost-effective, and durable sensor systems capable of the sensitive and selective detection of bio-threat agents. Fluorescence-based techniques, particularly those employing UV light, have proven effective for detecting biological fluorophores such as proteins and cofactors. However, conventional laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) systems, while highly sensitive, are bulky, expensive, and require significant power and maintenance. To address these limitations, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have emerged as a promising alternative, offering compact, robust, and low-maintenance solutions. Recent advancements in UV LEDs, spanning 200–400 nm, align with the excitation of natural fluorophores found in bacteria, spores, and viruses, enabling the development of practical fluorescence sensors. In this study, we developed a dual-wavelength fluorescence sensor system employing UV LEDs at 280 nm and 365 nm for the selective detection of Bacillus subtilis endospores, a surrogate for the pathogenic Bacillus anthracis. The system integrates optimized optical lenses and a bio-cell utilizing replaceable quartz sample tubes to minimize contamination and enhance usability. The sensor demonstrated selective detection at concentrations as low as 10⁷ spores/mL. This portable, cost-effective system provides a practical solution for rapid and reliable detection of biological threats, meeting critical field requirements for size, weight, and durability. </p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 8","pages":"1783 - 1792"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11814-025-00442-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145168766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced Photocatalytic Reduction of Carcinogenic Bromate in Water Using Self-Assembled Integration of Titanium Dioxide and Alpha-Sulfur","authors":"Vo Thi Thanh Thuy,&nbsp;Tran Doan Trang,&nbsp;Yi-Feng Lin,&nbsp;Nguyen Nhat Huy,&nbsp;Yiu Fai Tsang,&nbsp;Kun-Yi Andrew Lin","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00464-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00464-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bromate (BrO₃⁻), a carcinogenic disinfection by-product, presents significant health risks, requiring its effective removal from drinking water. Photocatalysis offers a promising method for reducing bromate to bromide (Br⁻). In this study, we developed a novel composite material, aS/TiO₂ (aSTO), integrating TiO₂ nanoparticles onto the surface of alpha-sulfur (aS) to enhance reduction under UV irradiation. The aSTO composite, with a bandgap energy of 2.69 eV, addresses the limitations of pure TiO₂, such as limited UV absorption and agglomeration, which reduce its photocatalytic efficiency. We conducted photocatalytic experiments to compare the performance of aSTO, TiO₂, and aS in bromate reduction. The experiments were conducted under varying conditions, including different temperatures, pH levels, and the presence of co-existing anions such as nitrate and phosphate. Recyclability tests were performed to assess the material’s reusability. The aSTO composite outperformed both TiO₂ and aS, achieving up to 20 μmol/g of bromate removal at a dosage of 1500 mg/L over 120 min, with significantly higher bromate removal compared to TiO₂ (~ 15 μmol/g) and aS (~ 5 μmol/g). The reduction of bromate was accompanied by the stoichiometric formation of bromide, confirming the efficient conversion process. Its efficiency improved under acidic conditions and elevated temperatures. Although co-existing anions slightly inhibited the process, aSTO remained highly effective. Recyclability tests confirmed that aSTO retained its catalytic performance and structural integrity over multiple cycles. Overall, aSTO shows great potential as a reusable photocatalyst for sustainable bromate removal in real-world water treatment applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 10","pages":"2295 - 2307"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145168753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of Preparation Process and Property Study of BFS-based Alkali-activated Porous Thermal Insulation Materials","authors":"Zhang Lei,&nbsp;Xiang Guifeng,&nbsp;Zhang Lei,&nbsp;Jia Yang,&nbsp;Wang Qi","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00465-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00465-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This research centers on the conversion of blast furnace slag, a major by-product of steel-making, into high-performance alkali-activated porous thermal insulation materials. Single-factor experiments explored the effects of water-cement ratio, SS modulus, and alkali activator content on BFS-based cementitious materials, and SDS content, H₂O₂ content, stirring time, and speed on BFS-based thermal insulation materials. An L9(3³) orthogonal experimental design was employed to identify the optimal formulation for BFS-based cementitious composites, while a Box-Behnken Design (BBD) approach was utilized to elucidate the synergistic interactions among the foaming agent-to-foam stabilizer ratio, stirring speed, and stirring time, with respect to thermal conductivity, compressive strength, and apparent density of the insulation materials. The experimental outcomes demonstrated that a water-to-cement ratio of 0.40, an SS modulus of 1.6, and an alkali activator content of 32% culminated in a maximum compressive strength of 45 MPa for the cementitious matrix. For the thermal insulation materials, an SDS concentration of 0.60%, an H₂O₂ dosage of 6%, a stirring duration of 7 min, and an agitation speed of 1000 rpm yielded optimal performance, characterized by a thermal conductivity of 0.058 W/(m·K), a compressive strength of 0.15 MPa, and an apparent density of 245.27 kg/m³. This research offers valuable insights for the efficient utilization of BFS and the production of high-performance thermal insulation materials.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 11","pages":"2569 - 2582"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144923265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combination of CuO with Bi3NbO7 for Boosting Photocatalytic Performance Under Visible Light","authors":"Lei Yang,&nbsp;Yanming Shen,&nbsp;Yinyan Dou,&nbsp;Junhua Wen","doi":"10.1007/s11814-025-00463-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11814-025-00463-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this work, CuO/Bi₃NbO₇ <i>p–n</i> heterojunction photocatalyst was designed and successfully prepared, in order to overcome the problems, such as high recombination rate of photo-generated carriers, limited light absorption range and so on. The resulted samples were characterized by techniques, such as XRD, SEM, TEM, UV–vis DRS, BET, electrochemical test. The visible light degradation performance for MB was investigated. The effects of CuO composite ratio, initial MB concentration, catalyst addition amount and pH on the catalytic activity were discussed. The experimental results showed that CuO nanoparticles were successfully loaded on Bi₃NbO₇, and the composite catalyst exhibited a loose and porous morphology. The combination of CuO not only improved the absorption capacity for visible light, but also promoted the transfer of photo-generated electrons and holes, and improved the photocatalytic activity of Bi₃NbO₇. Under the optimized experimental conditions, after visible light irradiation for 180 min, the degradation efficiencies of MB and TC on CuO/Bi₃NbO₇ composite with 5 wt % CuO loading reached 96% and 99%, respectively, which were higher than that of bulk Bi₃NbO₇. This<i> p–n</i> heterojunction promoted the separation of photo-generated charges. It provides a reference for improving the photocatalytic activity of Bi₃NbO₇.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":684,"journal":{"name":"Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering","volume":"42 10","pages":"2309 - 2319"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145166726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}