Title:Photoelectrocatalytic Oxidation of Organics Under Visible Light Illumination: A Short Review
VOLUME: 19 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):Nikolaos Karanasios, Jenia Georgieva, Eugenia Valova, Stephan Armyanov, Georgios Litsardakis and Sotiris Sotiropoulos
Affiliation:Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
Keywords:Photoanodes, photoelectrocatalysis, photooxidation, semiconductors, titanium dioxide, visible light.
Abstract:Research towards the establishment of photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of organics as an advanced oxidation
method for the degradation of organic pollutants (sometimes coupled with the production of hydrogen or electric
energy) is reviewed. Apart from the principles and the historical background of the method, special emphasis is
given to its applicability under visible light illumination. To that direction, the photoanode materials that show
visible light activity are reviewed. These can be classified as single component semiconductors, bi-component
semiconductors and modified TiO2-materials. The latter include non-metal-doped (e.g. C-, N-, S-doped) as well as
metal-decorated (e.g. Pt-, Au-, Ag-decorated) TiO2 oxide powders or nanotubes. Studies aimed at testing the activity of these materials
towards model organic compounds oxidation as well as actual pollutants are presented. The potential of the method, especially for air
treatment and for simultaneous energy and/or hydrogen production is emphasized.
