@article { ISI:000309139400021,
	title = {Eco-friendly, highly stable and efficient nanostructured p-type N-doped ZnO photocatalyst for environmentally benign solar hydrogen production},
	journal = {Green Chemistry},
	volume = {14},
	number = {10},
	year = {2012},
	month = {JUL},
	pages = {2790-2798},
	publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY},
	type = {Article},
	address = {THOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {<p>We have investigated an economical green route for the synthesis of a p-type N-doped ZnO photocatalyst by a wet chemical method. Significantly, hazardous H2S waste was converted into eco-friendly hydrogen energy using the p-type N-doped ZnO photocatalyst under solar light, which has previously been unattempted. The as-synthesized p-type N-doped ZnO shows a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The optical study shows a drastic shift in the band gap of the doped ZnO in the visible region (3.19-2.3 eV). The doping of nitrogen into the ZnO lattice is conclusively proved from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and Raman scattering. The morphological features of the N-doped ZnO are studied from FESEM, TEM and reveal particle sizes to be in the range of similar to 4-5 nm. The N-doped ZnO exhibits enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation (similar to 3957 mu mol h(-1)) by photodecomposition of hydrogen sulfide under visible light irradiation, which is much higher as compared to semiconductor metal oxides reported so far. It is noteworthy that a green catalyst is investigated to curtail H2S pollution along with production of hydrogen (green fuel) using solar light, i.e., a renewable energy source. The green process investigated will have the potential to synthesize other N-doped metal oxides.</p>},
	issn = {1463-9262},
	doi = {10.1039/c2gc35519a},
	author = {Bhirud, Ashwini P. and Sathaye, Shivaram D. and Waichal, Rupali P. and Nikam, Latesh K. and Kale, Bharat B.}
}
@article { ISI:000327459400021,
	title = {Environmentally benign enhanced H-2 production from abundant copious waste H2S using size tuneable cubic bismuth (Bi-0) quantum dots-GeO2 glass photocatalyst under solar light},
	journal = {Green Chemistry},
	volume = {15},
	number = {12},
	year = {2013},
	month = {OCT},
	pages = {3459-3467},
	publisher = {ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY},
	address = {THOMAS GRAHAM HOUSE, SCIENCE PARK, MILTON RD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 0WF, CAMBS, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {<p>Hydrogen sulfide is a copious gas produced in refineries (15-20\%) as well as billions of tons produced as a by-product in alkali industries. Selectively, only 5\% has been utilised for the Claus process to produce liquid sulfur and it is also well known for its uneconomical and environmental problems. Here, we have demonstrated a significant green approach for conversion of poisonous H2S into H-2 by stable cubic bismuth (Bi-0) quantum dot-glass nanosystems using solar light as the energy source. Previously, metal oxides and sulfides have been demonstrated as solar light photocatalysts. However, a unique bismuth quantum dot-glass nanosystem has been designed where cubic phase bismuth quantum dots of size 1-2 nm are grown in the germanate glass matrix successfully. The presence of bismuth (Bi-0) was confirmed by XRD, Raman, TEM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The glass nanosystem shows quantum confinement with variation of the band gap from 2.95-1.51 eV. Considering the broad absorption from visible to near IR, we used this glass nanosystem as a solar light active photocatalyst and hydrogen production with respect to the quantum confinement of bismuth (Bi-0) quantum dots has been demonstrated for the first time. The photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production using glass nano-systems having bismuth quantum dot sizes of 1-2 nm and 3-6 nm was measured under solar light and prima fascia observations revealed that the glass nanosystems with very small quantum dots (1-2 nm) showed enhanced hydrogen evolution (11 541 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)) from H2S. The hydrogen evolution obtained is much higher than for previously reported visible light active nanostructured sulfide/oxide or embedded glass nanosystems. The glass nanosystems were also used for water splitting and show evolution of hydrogen without any co-catalyst. It is noteworthy that the quantum dot-glass photocatalyst is highly stable and catalyst regeneration is quite easy and fast. Hence, the QD-bismuth-glass nanocomposites have significant advantages over normal nanosized powder catalysts. Such unique glass nanosystems will also have great potential in photonics and optoelectronic applications.</p>},
	issn = {1463-9262},
	doi = {10.1039/c3gc41940a},
	author = {Apte, Sanjay K. and Garaje, Sunil N. and Naik, Sonali D. and Waichal, Rupali P. and Kale, Bharat B.}
}
