Demény Petra

Photocatalyst/biopolymer composite coatings

Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem

Oláh György Doktori Iskola (Kémia és Vegyészmérnöki tudományok)

Hórvölgyi Zoltán

egyéni

PhD

"Thin composite coatings made of photocatalysts (e.g. TiO2, Cu2O) and biopolymers (e.g. chitosan, cellulose) can be used as self-cleaning coatings, or as reusable photocatalyst materials for air- and water purification. Photocatalysts with suitable composition (e.g. inclusion of Cu2O, Ag nanoparticles or N-doping) can be prepared in order to achieve photoactivity under visible light. Biobased polymers, such as chitosan, can be advantageous to immobilize the photocatalyst nanoparticles on a solid substrate in order to develop a stable and reusable photocatalyst device; and to utilize the adsorption capabilities of the biopolymer layer, making e.g. removal of pollutants from waste water even more effective. The PhD student joining this research topic will prepare photocatalyst nanoparticles and thin coatings based on semiconductor materials (TiO2, ZnO, Cu2O) and metal nanoparticles (e.g. Ag, Au), and their composite coatings with biopolymers (e.g. chitosan, gelatin, cellulose), using for example sol-gel dip-coatings and spin-coatings methods. Coatings will be prepared on solid substrates (glass, silicon). Optical spectroscopy methods (UV-Vis spectroscopy, ellipsometry, scanning angle reflectometry) will be used to characterize the coatings. Crystal structure of samples will be measured by X-ray diffraction. Microscopy methods, including transmission electron microscopy will be used to determine the shape and size distribution of particles, and the structure of composite coatings. Contact angle measurements will be carried out in order to study the surface properties and wettability of the coatings. The photoactivity of the samples will be evaluated in dye photodegradation measurements under UV and/or visible light illumination."

2025-02-01

2029-01-01

folyamatban lévő

Photocatalyst/biopolymer composite coatings