Guest Editors
Jianhao Qiu, Associate Professor, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, China
Dr. Jianhao Qiu is an associate professor of Chemical Engineering at Nanjing Forestry University, China. He served as a visiting scholar at Monash University (Australia, 2019-2020) and received his PhD degree from Nanjing Forestry University (China, 2020). His research focuses on photocatalyst design based on metal-organic frameworks, 2D semiconductors and cellulose, and their applications in biomass conversion, energy and the environment. He has published more than 60 papers on international academic journals.
Xiong-Fei Zhang, Associate Professor, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, China
Dr. Xiong-Fei Zhang is an associate professor of Chemical Engineering at Nanjing Forestry University, China. He received his PhD degree from Tianjin University (China, 2016). His research focuses on the design and applications of lignocellulose-based functional materials. He has published more than 80 papers on international academic journals.
Mingmin Jia, Associate Professor, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huaian Normal University, China
Dr. Mingmin Jia is an associate professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Huaian Normal University, China. He received his PhD degree from Nanjing Forestry University (China, 2020). His research focuses on the design and applications of cellulose-based functional materials. He has published more than 20 papers.
Jie Xu, College of Material and Chemical Engineering, Chuzhou University, China.
Dr. Jie Xu is a lecturer of Material and Chemical Engineering at Chuzhou University, China. He received his PhD degree from Nanjing Forestry University (China, 2021). His current research interests include photocatalytic synthesis of chemicals, sustainable and environmentally friendly applications of photocatalysis. As the first author or corresponding author, he has published 18 papers.
Summary
Recently, organic-inorganic composites have aroused considerable attention due to their tunable properties, where cellulose tailored semiconductors for artificial photocatalysis are typical examples. Although cellulose itself actually has no direct photocatalytic activity, it can facilitate semiconductor photocatalysts via two strategies: function as assistants and sacrifice as bio-templates. When utilized as assistants, its good hydrophilicity may accelerate the reaction in the water system, and it could also act as a scaffold to fix, disperse or even transform semiconductors through the interlinked ultrafine fibers and chemical interaction triggered by functional groups, which would remarkably promote their photocatalytic performances. Whereas some researchers just sacrifice cellulose as bio-templates by calcination or solvothermal treatment, the removal of cellulose could bring about delicate structures with high porosity and large surface area; alternatively, the inherited biochar skeleton would assist the photo-induced electron transfer. Beyond these, the reusability of photocatalysts is also of great importance for their practical applications. Benefiting from the fascinating features of low density, fibrillar morphology and strong mutual hydrogen bonds, cellulose could be easily manufactured into various monoliths with high mechanical ductility and flexibility, including films, gels (aerogel and hydrogel) and textiles, such heterogeneous and monolithic nature would endow photocatalysts with facile recycling features. Besides, the strong adhesion initiated by chemical interaction, especially hydrogen bonds, between cellulose and semiconductors guarantees the high stability of semiconductors. Thus, cellulose could remedy the defects of conventional semiconductors to a certain degree and further realize advanced photocatalysis, and it is worthy of studying the subject of cellulose tailored semiconductors.
This special issue of “Cellulose Tailored Semiconductors for Photocatalysis” will focus on the recent advances in the design and applications of cellulose-based photocatalysts. This special issue accepts research and review articles that will show a diversity of new developments in these areas:
(1) Construction of cellulose-based photocatalysts, including powder and monolith (films, gels (aerogel and hydrogel) and textiles) photocatalysts
(2) Application of cellulose-based photocatalysts
Keywords
Cellulose; Semiconductor; Photocatalysis; Bio-template; Film; Aerogel; Hydrogel; Textile
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