Sharif Digital Repository

Octahedral crystals of Fe-Metal-organic frameworks like Fe-MIL-101, which is the most stable and active metal-organic frameworks; in combination with graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets could significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 for inorganic dye degradation under the irradiation of visible light application. This appropriate cocatalyst modifies the performance of semiconductor via suppressing the recombination of photo-induced carriers and since the synthesized composite prepared by in-situ procedure possesses close contact between each other, the migration of electrons in the photocatalytic reaction will be continued, so the degradation process via the active species... 

Using free laccase, enzymatic decolorization of two azo dyes were optimized. The optimum conditions with the aim of maximizing the decolorization of AB92 dye (92.30%) were: dye concentration = 11.85 mg L-1, pH = 5.1, and enzyme concentration = 98.37 mg L-1. While, these conditions to achieve the maximum decolorization yield of DR23 (95.60%) were: dye concentration = 17.68 mg L-1, pH 3.7 and enzyme concentration =97.89 mg L-1.In the second part, the laccase enzyme was covalently immobilized onto GO nanosheets. At the concentration of graphene oxide and laccase enzyme equal to 1 mg mL-1 and 0.9 mg mL-1, respectively, the enzyme loading was 156.5 mg g-1 and the immobilization efficiency was... 

In this research we focus on study and fabrication of one dimentianal TiO2 nanostructures and nanoheterostructures on TiO2 nanofibers in order to use them in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSC). Nanofibers of titanium oxide have been fabricated using hydrothermal method. Then, hierarchical TiO2 nanostructures were grown on the nanofibers via another hydrothermal step. Increasing the effective surface of nanofibers, we achieved two secondary architectures from fibers:1-Nanoparticular fibers (TiO2 nanoparticles grown on nanofibers).2-Nanostars.After fabrication, the SEM and XRD characterizations were provided. Furthermore, the suitable pastes of these nanostructures were prepared for application... 

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are emerging as low-cost alternatives to conventional, solid-state, silicon solar cells. A porous network of a nanosize semiconductor material with a wide band-gaps usually TiO2, serves as charge transport medium. A monolayer of dye is chemically adsorbed on this material. Photoexcitation of dye causes injection of electrons into the conduction band of TiO2 from where they diffuse towards a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrate. The dye is regenerated through receiving electrons from a redox couple dissolved in the electrolyte. After passing through a desired load, the electrons enter the cell through a counter electrode to reduce the redox ions and... 

By the use of flexible substrates like metal foils and meshes and plastic ones, fabrication of flexible dye sensitized solar cells are possible. Flexible dye sensitized solar cell, not only is utilized in portable, light electronic devices, but is also conductive to industrial roll to roll fabrication which enables the implementation of high throughput production lines and its associated potential reduction in manufacturing costs. This thesis has concentrated on fabrication of flexible dye sensitized solar cells by use of stainless steel mesh as substrate of photo-anode, because of its satisfying stability in electrolyte, flexibility, transparency and low cost. In this research, an efficient... 

Distributed feedback dye lasers are among the suitable candidates for spectroscopic applications due to their capability of producing widely tunable picosecond pulses in UV-IR region. However, the pulsewidth sensitivity of the laser to pump intensity fluctuations hinders its suitability for precision applications. In this thesis, by utilizing widely used Self Q-Switching model, we showed that if the dye solution is pumped by a narrow (sub-nanosecond) pulse, the laser can operates in the single-pulse output mode with a better stability over a wide range of pump intensity. After that, we used a dynamical model based on the induced polarization and Maxwell equations, where the obtained results... 

This thesis deals with a theoretical and experimental investigation of different approaches for reduction of electronic recombination in the semiconductor/Dye interface of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) including dye coverage, core-shell structures and energy level distributions. Interface of ZnO/TiO2 in the core-shell structure have been studied by density functional theory and the energy level distribution of surface atoms, recombination and Fermi level changes, open circuit voltage and surface dipole distributions have been discussed.
The presence of TiO2 shell increases the ZnO surface dipole moment, and shifts the ZnO conduction and valence bands to higher energies. Also, it... 

Polyagent photocatalysts based on the zeolite including TiO2, Ag and AgBr prepared by Sol-gel method. Ag and AgBr prevent of electron-hole recombination and enhance photocatalytic activity. Prepared catalysts were characterized by different analysis method including XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR and BET techniques. Catalyst activities were investigated from two aspects: in first step the activities of catalyst were investigated for degradation of AB92 dye. The effect of different factors such as: catalyst concentration, dye concentration, pH and scavenger (sodium thiosulphate) on efficiency and reaction rate were investigated. The optimazed values for all conditions specified, then catalyst activities... 

In this thesis, pure –known as T- and chromium doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles –known as -CTx- with different dopant atomic ratio (0.1 to 5 %at.) were synthesized using a facile, fast and efficient method. FESEM and XRD studies showed no morphologic and structural change via Cr doping of nanoparticles (size in the range of 20-30 nm). However, according to DRS analysis, Cr intrusion in TiO2 crystal structure, drastically reduced band gap energy of pure TiO2 from 3.14 eV to 1.81 eV for CT3 powder and improved absorption range of UV-Vis spectrum. Mott-Schottky plots indicated that, Cr doping, caused reduction in donor density of TiO2 and an upward shift in the conduction band edge.... 

A new strategy for enhancing the efficiency of TiO2 dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) doped with Ni ions with different molar percentages (i.e., 0, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mol%) was reported. The samples were prepared by sol-gel route and characterized by means of XRD, DRS, UV-visible, FESEM and photovoltaic measurment techniques. It was found that Ni-doped TiO2 nanoparticles had a mixture of anatase, rutile and brookite crystal structures. Moreover, the band gap energy was decreased with increasing Ni molar ratio, The highest cell efficiency of 5.4% was achieved for 1mol% Ni-doped TiO2, being 42% greater than that of pure TiO2 nanoparticles  

In the present study, TiO2-reduced graphene oxide (T-RGO) nanocomposites were synthesized via various in-situ and ex-situ methods, then their photovoltaic performance was examined as photoanode and mesoporous layers in dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) and perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs), respectively. Graphene oxide (GO) was prepared using Hummer’s method with some modifications. Both thermal and hydrothermal processes were used to reduce GO. Structural and optical characterization was analytically demonstrated by subjecting of the obtained materials by several techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA),... 

The amino groups present in the chemical structure of chitosan have made this material a prominent dye absorbents. But researchers have always taken steps to improve conditions and increase absorption. One of the materials that has attracted most researchers today is metal-organic frameworks. These porous materials with high surface area, optimum thermal resistance and adsorbent dye functional groups have been used as the reinfocing in the chitosan polymer field to adsorb anionic dye (methyl orange) from the aqueous media. One of metal-organic frameworks is UiO-66, which was selected as a reinforcing phase in the polymer field, due to its good stability in aqueous solutions, good thermal... 

In this project, polymer nanocomposites containing graphene oxide were prepared and used for adsorption of several cationic and anionic dyes. In most cases, these nanocomposites were prepared as three-dimentional polymer networks which contain graphene oxide. Nanocomposites with direct grafting of polymer chains onto the surface of graphene oxide were also prepared. Graphene oxide is an oxidized carbonaceous material with unique properties. This material has high surface area, good mechanical strength and various functional groups. Polymeric compounds with different functional groups, structures and properties can be prepared and used. By preparing composites of graphene oxide and polymers,... 

Nanoporous metal-organic frameworks are among the new and advanced compounds that have attracted attention of researchers due to their unique properties such as high surface area, high porosity and regular structure. These compounds can catalyze and degrade pollutants. Due to the high consumption of organic compounds, especially textile dyes, the pollution caused by wastewater is increasing in various industries. Disposal of wastewater containing organic pollutants into aquatic environments can alter the natural color, change the taste of water and disturb the life of living organisms. If the dyes are left untreated in aquatic ecosystems, they can remain in the environment for a very long... 

This study presents a facile sol-gel template-assisted route to prepare CNT-TiO2 hybrid structures (CTH) for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Non-covalent functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with average diameter of 80 nm are used as the template for TiO2 deposition. The X-ray diffraction reveals that the hybrid structures are composed of primary anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with the average crystallite size of 12 nm, after heat treatment at 450°C in air atmosphere. TEM and FESEM images show that the shell thickness of the coated TiO2 on CNTs’ outmost walls varies between 60 to 120 nm, when the ratio of CNTs:TiO2 is 10wt. %. Photovoltaic measurements demonstrate... 

Different types of morphologies and phase structures of crystalline TiO2 were synthesized by hydrothermal methods. For the first time, dandelion-like rutile TiO2 powder composed of numerous single crystalline nanorods was synthesized using TiCl4 as the main precursor. TiO2 Nanoparticles were produced using TTIP and 2-propanol, as precursor and solvent, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed that the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles had average crystallite size in the range 21–70 nm, whereas dandelion-like TiO2 showed diameter in the range 2-10 µm. According to the significant refractive index of TiO2, in particular rutile phase, it can be used in the... 

consumption of which (especially azo dyes) have been increasing nowadays, causing the increase of textile wastewaters. Usually, these wastewaters contain an immense number of dyes, and if these dyes release in the environment especially in waters, they cause some problems, such as the change of watercolor as well as taste, and affect creatures' lives severely. Moreover, If the dyes are left untreated in aquatic ecosystems, they can remain in the environment for a very long time, resulting in harmful and irreversible effects. Azo dyes are classified as mono, di-, three, azo dyes due to their bonds. Because dyes are increasingly used, nowadays, different methods are developed for the treatment... 

Nanocomposite FeVO4/CeO2 was synthesized by hydrothermal method and was applied for removal of methyl orange. This nanocomposite was characterized by SEM, FT-IR, XRD, BET methods. SEM images showed that FeVO4 nanorode decorated on CeO2 spherical particles. The results of XRD patterns confirmed the triclinic structure for Fe(III)vanadate and the cubic fluorite structure for cerium oxide. The surface area of FeVO4, CeO2 and FeVO4/CeO2 was determined by BET analysis which the results represented an increase in surface area in nanocomposite using cerium oxide as support. The electro-Fenton reaction was performed in undivided electrochemical reactor using stainless steel electrodes and the... 

The Dye-sensitizers loading on TiO2 is decreasing the electron excitation energy and therefore improving the photocatalytic performance from the increasing the sensitivity under visible light irradiation.in this project CoPCTS , Mordant dye and N3(Ruthenium 535) used as dye-sensitizers. Also The addition of VIII group metals on TiO2 is improving the photocatalytic activity that increasing the photocatalytic reaction rate because of the intermediation role of them for moving the conduction band electrons to electron acceptors and increasing the pair electron-holes long-life that in this case Pt loading used as a VIII group metal. In this project Titanium Isopropoxide as a precursore and... 

Counter electrode of dye sensitized solar cell is prepared by deposition of a thin catalytic layer onto a conducting substrate and is responsible for reduction of iodide/triiodide redox electrolyte. Conventionally, counter electrode is made of platinum.
Depending on the method of deposition, the thickness of Pt layer varies. The Pt layer may be so thick that it acts as reflector and returns the incident light back to the cell. In this case, large amount of Pt is used and a rise in cost is been made, but only the Pt particles in the interface of counter electrode/electrolyte take part in the reduction reaction.
The aim of this project is optimization of making a counter electrode,...