Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (7): 1195-1204.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(20)63737-8

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Zn-doping mediated formation of oxygen vacancies in SnO2 with unique electronic structure for efficient and stable photocatalytic toluene degradation

Huizhong Wua, Jiadong Wanga, Ruimin Chena, Chaowei Yuana, Jin Zhanga, Yuxin Zhangc, Jianping Shengb,e,*(), Fan Donga,b,d,e,#()   

  1. aChongqing Key Laboratory of Catalysis and New Environmental Materials, College of Environment and Resources, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
    bResearch Center for Environmental and Energy Catalysis, Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, Sichuan, China
    cCollege of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400074, China
    dState Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-carbon and Environmental Materials (CDLCEM), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
    eYangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2020-10-08 Accepted:2020-11-18 Online:2021-07-18 Published:2020-12-10
  • Contact: Jianping Sheng,Fan Dong
  • About author:# E-mail: dfctbu@126.com, dongfan@uestc.edu.cn
    * E-mail: jpshengchn@163.com;
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(21822601);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52002054);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21777011);Innovative Research Team of Chongqing(CXQT19023);Key Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(cstc2017jcyjBX0052)

Abstract:

To optimize the electronic structure of photocatalyst, a facile one-step approach is developed for the simultaneous realization of Zn-doping and surface oxygen vacancies (SOVs) formation on SnO2. The Zn-doped SnO2 with abundant SOVs exhibits efficient and stable performance for photocatalytic degradation of toluene under both low and high relative humidity. Experimental and theoretical calculations results show that the synergistic effects of Zn-doping and SOVs on SnO2 can considerably boost the charge transfer and separation efficiency. Utilizing the in situ DRIFTS and theoretical calculations methods, it is revealed that the benzene ring of toluene is opened at benzoic acid on the SnO2 surface and selectively at benzaldehyde on the Zn-doped SnO2 surface. This implies that Zn-doped SnO2 photocatalysts shorten the pathway of toluene degradation, and toxic intermediates can be significantly inhibited. This work could provide a promising and sustainable route for safe and efficient removal of aromatic VOCs with photocatalytic technology.

Key words: Photocatalysis, Zn-doping, Surface oxygen vacancies, Toluene, In situ FT-IR