Coupling of SiC and CeO2 nanosheets to enhance solar energy utilization and optimize catalytic ozonation

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2022-11, Vol.317, p.121697, Article 121697
• Main Authors: Gao, Junxian, Tang, Lingling, Shen, Zhizhang, Dong, Yuming, Wang, Zhenyu, Lyu, Jinze, Li, Ji, Yu, Han-Qing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ozone; Photoelectric effect; Photothermal conversion; Solar energy; Volatile organic compounds
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121697

The coupling of solar energy conversion and catalytic ozonation is an effective way to eliminate volatile organic compounds with high-efficiency and low-energy-consumption. In this work, we presented a non-noble-metal SiC/CeO2 system for solar-light-assisted catalytic ozonation of toluene. Temperature and light-controlled experiments and atmosphere surface photovoltage measurement were conducted to evaluate photothermal and photoelectric processes. Results show that toluene removal and mineralization efficiencies of 25%SiC-CeO2 were 69.7% and 67.1%, respectively, under full-spectrum illumination with an hourly space velocity of 6000 /h. The SiC enhanced the conversion of incident visible and infrared (IR) light to heat, thereby increasing the reaction temperature over 25%SiC-CeO2. Moreover, SiC transferred electrons to CeO2 in 25%SiC-CeO2, generating more surface Ce3+ sites and promoting charge carriers separation efficiency. Given these characteristics, 25%SiC-CeO2 exhibited outstanding performance in toluene mineralization, even better than Pd-loaded CeO2. [Display omitted] •SiC and CeO2 were coupled to utilize solar energy for VOC mineralization.•SiC-CeO2 showed a greater performance than Pt-CeO2 and Pd-CeO2.•SiC loading significantly increased absorbance of visible and IR light.•SiC increased the Ce3+ content in CeO2 nanosheets.•The heterojunction formed by SiC and CeO2 enhanced charge transfer.