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A Screening Technique Useful for Testing the Effectiveness of Novel “Self‐Cleaning” Photocatalytic Surfaces
Author(s) -
Finn Shane T.,
Strnad Jessica A.,
Barreto Patricia D.,
Fox Megan E.,
Torres Jorge,
Sweeney James D.,
Barreto José C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2011.00953.x
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , calcination , materials science , substrate (aquarium) , titanium oxide , nanotechnology , superhydrophilicity , titanium , oxide , chemical engineering , contact angle , chemistry , catalysis , composite material , metallurgy , organic chemistry , oceanography , engineering , geology
We describe a screening methodology that can be used to quickly determine the effectiveness of newly synthesized photocatalysts. We were particularly interested in measuring the destruction of organic molecules painted onto a photocatalytic surface by spraying, with destruction proceeding in ambient air (as a model for airborne toxin destruction). Our method can utilize photocatalysts that are synthesized as powders (such as doped and undoped titanium oxide) and which are then calcined onto a glass substrate disk at 600°C. Herein, we used UV illumination of Aeroxide P‐25 TiO 2 , but the method is general and can accommodate any region of the light spectrum.