News tagged with photocatalyst

Photocatalysis

In chemistry, photocatalysis is the acceleration of a photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst. In catalysed photolysis, light is absorbed by an adsorbed substrate. In photogenerated catalysis, the photocatalytic activity (PCA) depends on the ability of the catalyst to create electron–hole pairs, which generate free radicals (hydroxyl radicals: ·OH) able to undergo secondary reactions. Its comprehension has been made possible ever since the discovery of water electrolysis by means of the titanium dioxide. Commercial application of the process is called advanced oxidation process (AOP). There are several methods of achieving AOP's, that can but do not necessarily involve TiO2 or even the use of UV light. Generally the defining factor is the production and use of the hydroxyl radical.

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Discovery of an Unexpected Boost for Solar Water-Splitting Cells

(PhysOrg.com) -- A research team from Northeastern University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology has discovered, serendipitously, that a residue of a process used to build arrays of titania ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Apr 22, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (22) | comments 1

Water-splitting Photocatalyst Brought to Light

(PhysOrg.com) -- To produce "green" fuels, some scientists are looking for a little help from above. Sunlight is the key ingredient in photocatalytic water splitting, a process that breaks down water into ...

Physics / Condensed Matter

created Jun 16, 2010 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (18) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

High-purity hydrogen generated from a single device

(PhysOrg.com) -- There are many ways to generate hydrogen, such as water electrolysis and steam reforming of gas, but the hydrogen produced by these methods tends to be combined with other byproduct and residual ...

Physics / Condensed Matter

created Oct 07, 2011 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (15) | comments 17 | with audio podcast feature

A dash of disorder yields a very efficient photocatalyst

(PhysOrg.com) -- A little disorder goes a long way, especially when it comes to harnessing the sun’s energy. Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Jan 28, 2011 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (13) | comments 8 | with audio podcast

Solar rays could replace petroleum fuels, research shows

(PhysOrg.com) -- Alternative fuel sources for cars may have a glowing future as a Kansas State University graduate student is working to replace petroleum fuels with ones made from sunlight.

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Sep 13, 2011 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (13) | comments 13 | with audio podcast

New method to clean and treat polluted water for extraction of chemicals

Scientists in Poland have discovered that it is easy to clean and treat polluted water for extraction of valuable chemicals, such as those used in the production of drugs. The upshot of this is that the use ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Feb 24, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0

Accolade for solar-hydrogen project

A research project that aims to produce hydrogen on an environmentally friendly and cost-effective basis by using energy from the sun has won a prestigious E.ON research award.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created May 18, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Titanium dioxide film enhances the sun's natural disinfection power

The world population is estimated to be seven billion and all these mouths need feeding. With fears about overfishing and the sustainability of fish stocks in our seas fish farming is becoming big business. As with all farming ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Jan 12, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

NJIT professor develops biologically-inspired catalysis active, yet inert materials

NJIT Associate Professor Sergiu M. Gorun is leading a research team to develop biologically-inspired catalysis active, yet inert, materials. The work is based on organic catalytic framework made sturdy by the replacement ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created Apr 19, 2011 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 0