Abstract
Photocatalytic nanomaterials, using only light as the source of excitation, have been developed for the breakdown of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air for a long time. It is a tough challenge to immobilize these powder photocatalysts and prevent their entrainment with the gas stream. Conventional methods for making stable films typically require expensive deposition equipment and only allow the deposition of very thin layers with limited photocatalytic performance. The present work presents an alternative approach, using the combination of commercially available photocatalytic nanopowders and a polymer or inorganic sol–gel-based matrix. Analysis of the photocatalytic degradation of ethanol was studied for these layers on metallic substrates, proving a difference in photocatalytic activity for different types of stable layers. The sol–gel-based layers showed an improved photocatalytic activity of the nanomaterials compared with the polymer layers. In addition, the used preparation methods require only a limited amount of photocatalyst, little equipment, and allow easy upscaling.
Highlights
It has been known for several decades that exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) forms a risk for human health [1], including the so-called sick-building syndrome [2]
Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) measurements were performed on all TiO2 powders in order to obtain information about the crystal structure of the samples
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to study the layer morphology using a FEI Quanta 200 F instrument at high vacuum. This technique was combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) using EDAX Genesis 4000 hardware and software to identify the elements in the layers
Summary
It has been known for several decades that exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) forms a risk for human health [1], including the so-called sick-building syndrome [2]. VOCs originating from building materials can cause headache, nausea, and irritation of the throat, and can result in increased fatigue and neurological symptoms, such as concentration difficulty and depression. Some VOCs, such as benzene and formaldehyde, are even carcinogenic [3]. VOCs are emitted from paints, cleaning chemicals, furniture, textiles, etc. Ever since the discovery of the photocatalytic water splitting property of titanium dioxide (TiO2) electrodes by Fujishima and Honda in 1972 [5], this phenomenon has gained interest in many research fields, such as photo-oxidation/photodegradation of aqueous/gaseous pollutants, CO2 reduction by photocatalysis, photocatalytic self-cleaning, and hydrogen production by the splitting of water [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
