Photocatalytic applications of Titanium based nanomaterials: Towards sustainable technologies

Solar energy is the ultimate renewable source of energy, which has no match in abundance and availability. Titanium based materials such as TiO2, FTO1 and titanosilicates2 have the ability to harness this energy and convert it to chemical energy, making them exceptional candidates for applications photocatalysis. These materials absorb sunlight, which lead to generation of excited electrons that subsequently undergo chemical reactions via free radicals. This phenomenon can be utilized to catalyse many useful processes including water purification, CO2 fixation and energy generation via solar cells. The efficiency of such processes can be significantly enhanced by incorporating doping materials (Ex. N and heavy metal ions Fe, Cu etc.) that help reduce the band gap (i.e., energy difference between the valence band and conduction band) of Ti-based materials. Moreover, Ti-based materials can be combined with other semiconductors, and organic molecules to develop nanocomposites with high surface to volume ratios and high pore volumes as highly effective photo/chemo catalysts.3,4       

 This multidisciplinary project is targeted towards development of novel, porous Ti-based nanomaterials for advanced photocatalytic applications on energy conversion and water purification. “Sustainability” is of particular focus here, with emphasis on facile, environmentally benign and low-cost materials synthesis methods as well as materials recyclability, reusability and recovery.

 An emerging related field of interest is the incorporation of such photoactive materials into hydrogel structures for advanced, sustainable applications in water purification. Hence, the development of suitable hydrogels that are either photosensitive or incorporated with photoactive materials, for effective removal of organic and pathogenic pollutants is of interest. Additionally, the project will explore new pathways for the synthesis of PVA-titanosilicate composite mixtures with high porosity for removal of organic water pollutants including antibiotics, dyes and/or pesticides. Simulated solar light & UV-vis spectroscopy will be used to study the time-resolved photocatalytic behaviour of titanosilicates embedded with the gel matrix, along with comprehensive characterisation of the composite.

The project benefits from internal (Materials Chemistry Group at KU), national and international on-going research collaborations within the Perera Group, with access to significant resources recently acquired from UKRI HEFCE-GCRF funding.

 References

1. Perera et al., “A Hybrid Soft Solar Cell Based on the Mycobacterial Porin MspA Linked to a Sensitizer−Viologen Diad” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 6842−6845.

2. Perera & Coppens, “Titano-silicates: Highlights on development, evolution and application in oxidative catalysis”, Catalysis Volume 28 2016, 28, 119-143. DOI:10.1039/9781782626855-00119.

3. Perera et al., “Titanium(IV)-induced cristobalite formation in titanosilicates and its potential impact on catalysis”, J Mater Sci 2019, 54, 335.

4. Perera et al., “Optimization of mesoporous titanosilicate catalysts for cyclohexene epoxidation via statistically guided synthesis”, J Mater Sci 2018 53(10), 7279–7293.