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Heterogeneous photocatalytic reduction of dichromate on n-type semiconductor catalysts

Abstract

Photocatalytic and photoelectrosynthetic processes1 are interesting from the point of view of solar energy utilisation. These processes can be developed using semiconductor electrochemistry1–9. The fixing of carbon dioxide on semiconductor powders10 and amino acids synthesis on platinised TiO2 (ref. 11) are good examples. Here we report the photocatalytic reduction of dichromate to Cr(III) on n-type semiconducting powders. This is important as dichromate is a harmful substance, and has to be treated with a reducing agent such as sodium thiosulphate to give Cr(III) in the first step of the waste treatment.

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Yoneyama, H., Yamashita, Y. & Tamura, H. Heterogeneous photocatalytic reduction of dichromate on n-type semiconductor catalysts. Nature 282, 817–818 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282817a0

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