Workpackages

Workpackages Description

Standardization rules for TiO2 NPs and films performances in photocatalysis

Background

At present there is no metrologic infrastructure established that allows the traceable measurement of photocatalytic activity. The lack of reliable reference or even primary standards, and consequently standardized measurement methods, prevents accurate comparison of the functional properties of photoactive materials.

Main objective

 This work package focusses on the development of design rules for the standardization of performance measurements involving nanostructured heterogeneous photocatalytic systems. A general measurement concept will be pursued in order to comprehensively quantify key aspects of photocatalytic activity based on traceable tests that can finally be standardized.

Results

The expected results entail the definition of:

• A suite of substrates (considering both processes of hole and electron scavenging), for solid-liquid and gas-liquid applications, able to characterize and measure the kinetic of the various interfacial hole and electron transfer mechanisms involved in photocatalysis.

• Procedures to follow in real time and in situ the photocatalytic decomposition of surface adsorbed contaminants, also at nanometer level, including the suite of substrates of choice, by means of proper chemical sensors.

• Reproducible experimental set-ups that allow independent standard tests for photocatalytic activity measurements at a metrological level for gas-solid and liquid-solid systems

• Design rules for the optimization of TiO2 based photocatalysts. These will be based on the correlation of the production of active oxygen species and the dependence of rates and quantum yields to the substrate specificity and surface properties of the photocatalysts at molecular level, such as particle shape and size.