Scientists synthesize new materials that can directly use solar sterilization

Recently, researchers at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences synthesized a new type of photoelectrode material that can be directly used for sterilization by sunlight. Relevant research results were published in the "Catalysis Today".

Semiconductor photocatalytic technology is considered as one of the most promising technologies for water purification because of its low cost, environmental friendliness, and high efficiency and non-toxicity. However, the photocatalyst dioxide peptide, which is the most widely used photocatalyst, can only have photocatalytic activity when excited by ultraviolet light that accounts for about 5% of sunlight energy. Therefore, how to improve its absorption of visible light and its light quantum efficiency and directly use the sun or fluorescent lamps for water sterilization has become a hot research.

Under the guidance of An Taicheng and associate researcher Li Guiying, a researcher at Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, the doctoral student Nie Xin used a simple hydrothermal-calcination method to synthesize N-doped with visible light photocatalytic bactericidal activity using titanium and melamine as precursors. Hetero C polymer-loaded peptide complex photoelectrode.

The results show that the main components of the composite electrode are carbon, peptides, oxygen and a small amount of nitrogen. At the same time, the composite photoelectrode contains a large number of carboxyl, amino and hydroxyl groups, which can effectively enhance the nitrogen-doped carbon polymer and the dioxide The combination greatly promotes the absorption of visible light and its photoelectron transfer. The bactericidal test found that the composite photoelectrode has a fast photoelectrocatalytic killing effect on E. coli under visible light irradiation. The results provide important theoretical and experimental basis for the development of new visible light catalysts and their application in environmental governance, especially in the disinfection and disinfection of drinking water.