Photocatalysts for Varieties of Applications

Varieties of photocatalysts for multiple fields, especially in environment and energy, and for both research and industrial manufacturing use.

The newly emerging discipline of photocatalysis promises a solution to challenges associated with light, energy and environment. This is because photocatalyst can resolve and detoxicate harmful substances with the power of light approaching to the surface coated by photocatalysts. With the discovery of water electrolysis by means of titanium dioxide (TiO2), practical application was made possible. More and more breakthroughs have been made in recent years, which broadens the application of photocatalysts.

There are homogeneous photocatalysis and heterogeneous photocatalysis. Ozone and light-Fenton systems (Fe + and Fe + / H2O2) are the representatives of homogeneous photocatalysis to be used, while transition metal oxides and semiconductors belong to the heterogeneous photocatalysis type.

Photocatalysts plays an important role in clean energy and can solve energy problems by using solar photocatalytic decomposition of water to produce hydrogen. Perhaps this is the first application of photocatalysts widely known to people. Besides, photocatalysts also gain a position in air and water purification, household applications, building materials, textile industry as well as medical hygiene.

Except for being used to solve the two crises of energy shortage and environmental pollution, photocatalysis has also been found to be conducive in the microorganism’s field owing to the continuous research and improvement in technology. Just simply put it, the prospects of photocatalysts to be used in microorganisms include:

l As photocatalysts can damage microorganisms and sterilize them, photocatalysts are very prospective in environmental pollution control.

l As photocatalysts can couple with microorganisms to produce energy or degrade pollutants more efficiently, they are used in the production of energy materials.

l Also, in the preparation of photocatalysts, microorganisms can help the construction of photocatalysts.