Development of bismuth based visible light driven photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants

DEVELOPMENT OF BISMUTH BASED
VISIBLE-LIGHT-DRIVEN PHOTOCATALYSTS FOR THE
DEGRADATION OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS





HAN AIJUAN
(B.Sc. Shandong University)







A THESIS SUBMITTED
FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
2014
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Declaration
I hereby declare that this thesis is my original work and it has been written by
me in its entirety, under the supervision of A/P Jaenicke Stephan, (in the

laboratory catalysis lab), Chemistry Department, National University of
Singapore, between 01/08/2010 and 01/08/2014.
I have duly acknowledged all the sources of information which have been used
in the thesis.
This thesis has also not been submitted for any degree in any university
previously.


Han Aijuan



05 Aug 2014

Name

Signature

Date

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This thesis would not have been possible without the guidance, support,
advice, suggestion and help from many people during my time as a graduate
student in the National University of Singapore. The 4 years of Ph.D research
study have been a truly memorable learning journey.

First and foremost, I would like to offer my sincere appreciation to my
supervisor Associate Professor Dr. Stephan Jaenicke for his continuous
support throughout my thesis with his stimulating suggestions, various skill,
immense knowledge and plentiful experience whilst giving me the opportunity
to work on the project in his research lab. Without Professor Jaenicke’s patient
encouragement, persistent guidance and inspiring advice, this thesis would not
have been completed.

Associate Professor Chuah Gaik Khuan, which has influenced me in many
ways, deserves my special gratitude for her help and invaluable advices
throughout my research and writing of this thesis. I truly appreciate not only
all her precious time she has taken to read and correct my writings and
manuscript, but also her kind encouragement, insightful comments and
practical suggestions on the thesis.

I gratefully acknowledge Madam Toh Soh Lian and Madam Tan Lay San from
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Applied Chemistry lab for all the help they have rendered during my work.

Many thanks go to my follow lab mates: Dr Gao Yanxiu, Dr Fan Ao, Dr Liu
Huihui, Dr Toy Xiu Yi, Dr Wang Jie, Mr Do Dong Minh, Mr Goh Sook Jin,
Mr Irwan Iskandar Bin Roslan, Miss Siew Fung Chian, and Mr Sun Jiulong. I
am grateful for all the help and support from them in the last four years.

I am sincerely indebted to the National University of Singapore for providing
me with a valuable research scholarship and for funding the project.

Last but not least, my deepest love is reserved for my family, my parents and
my sister, for all their unconditional love, spiritual support and grateful
encouragement. I would like to give my special thanks to my boyfriend for
believing in me and giving me the moral support when it was most required.