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Article | REF: J1270 V1

Photo-catalysis: water or air depollution and self-cleaning materials

Authors: Chantal GUILLARD, Benoit KARTHEUSER, Sylvie LACOMBE

Publication date: November 10, 2011, Review date: October 1, 2020

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ABSTRACT

Photo-catalysis is an advanced oxidation technology based on the activation of a semiconductor by light. The materials likely to provoke these reactions are often titanium dioxide-based. After presenting the principle of photo-catalysis, the article proceeds to providing a detailed description of environmental applications. Those concerning water treatment cover inorganic and organic pollutants. Disinfection through photo-catalysis is a much explored domain even though the understanding of action mechanisms against micro-organisms must be deepened. The applications for air treatment concern the elimination of nitrogen oxides and the treatment of volatile organic compounds for indoor air. Finally, the article mentions the self-cleaning properties of surfaces coated with titanium dioxide.

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AUTHORS

  • Chantal GUILLARD: CNRS Research Director - IRCELYON, UMR CNRS 5256, University of Lyon, France

  • Benoit KARTHEUSER: Project Manager - CERTECH asbl, SENEFFE, Belgium

  • Sylvie LACOMBE: CNRS Research Director - IPREM, UMR CNRS 5254, University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour, France

 INTRODUCTION

Photocatalysis is an emerging advanced oxidation technology with many areas of application, particularly in Japan. Most of them use materials based on titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ). In this article we present only the environmental applications of these materials for air or water purification or self-cleaning applications. Applications in the field of energy by systems capable of storing solar energy, such as solar cells (dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells for electricity generation or DSSC [D 3935] [BE 8579] [BE 8578 ]) and hydrogen production by photocatalytic water splitting (fuel cells [BE 8565] ), will not be discussed, nor will the photo- or electrochromic or sensor properties [P 4031] [R 2385] .

The principle of photocatalysis is based on the activation of a semiconductor by light, and the energy and thermodynamic data governing photo-induced oxidation-reduction reactions are explained. The properties of various semiconductors capable of inducing photocatalytic reactions are discussed, before those of titanium dioxide are described in greater detail. Applications for water treatment, although less developed than for air treatment, cover both inorganic and organic pollutants. Disinfection (of water or air) by photocatalysis (elimination of micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi) is a field much explored in many research laboratories, even if understanding of the mechanisms of action against micro-organisms has yet to be perfected. The main applications for...

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