Converting Carbohydrates to Carbon-Based Photocatalysts for Environmental Treatment

Environmental Science & Technology
Zhuofeng HuJimmy C Yu

Abstract

Carbohydrates in biomass can be converted to semiconductive hydrothermal carbonation carbon (HTCC), a material that contains plenty of sp(2)-hybridization structures. Under solar light illumination, HTCC generates photoexcited electrons, holes, and hydroxyl radicals. These species can be used for photocatalytic treatment such as water disinfection and degradation of organic pollutants. The photocatalytic activity of HTCC can be significantly enhanced by iodine doping. The enhancement mechanism is investigated by density functional theoretical calculations and electrochemical measurements. The iodine dopants twist and optimize the structures of the sp(2)-hybridization in HTCC, thereby favoring photon-induced excitation. Moreover, the iodine dopants facilitate the charge transfer between different sp(2)-hybridization structures, thus increasing the conductivity and activity of the HTCC. An added benefit is that the I-doped HTCC exhibits lower cytotoxic effect than the pure HTCC. In addition to monosaccharides (glucose), disaccharides (sucrose), and polysaccharides (starch), we have also transformed crops (e.g., rice), plants (e.g., grass), and even agricultural waste (e.g., straw) and animal waste (e.g., cow dung). The conversion...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 19, 2018·Dalton Transactions : an International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry·Boyuan LiZhurui Shen
Nov 27, 2020·Chemistry : a European Journal·Yangchun LanZhuofeng Hu
May 11, 2021·Frontiers in Microbiology·Ho Shing ChanPo Keung Wong
Sep 12, 2017·Environmental Science & Technology·Na ChenLizhi Zhang

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