Preparation and characterization of visible-light-active heterogeneous photocatalysts and their application for water treatment combined with ozonation
Thesis supervisor: Erzsébet Szabóné Bárdos
co-supervisor: Ottó Horváth
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia Abbreviation of location of studies: UPCNS
Description of the research topic:
The problem of water pollution caused by industrial contaminants has become more and more severe in the last few decades. It is of utmost urgency to develop a green and sustainable approach to remove the industrial chemicals before they are discharged from the plants. One of the most reliable and cost-effective techniques is the semiconductor-based photocatalytic method. In this system, the excitation of the semiconductor with light energy higher than that of the band gap generates an electron-hole pair, which, after avoiding the recombination, can produce various reactive agents in the aqueous phase. The traditional semiconductors, such as TiO2, ZnO, or SrTiO3, can only be excited by UV radiation, which is about 4% of the solar light in the troposphere. In order to utilize the inexhaustible visible solar radiation, considerable efforts have been made to develop narrow-bandgap semiconductors. Polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a fascinating non-metallic visible-light-driven photocatalyst has gained a particular, owing to its advantagous features such as low bandgap energy and high chemical stability. However, the pure graphitic carbon nitride suffers from the quick recombination of charge carriers, which strongly lowers the photocatalytic activity of pure g-C3N4. The extension of the optical response and the reduction of the recombination rate of the charge carriers. Although tremendous efforts have been made to modify the graphitic carbon nitride, some space is still available in this topic and in the application of this catalyst towards the removal of organic pollutants.
The applicant will develop suitable techniques that can improve the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4. For this purpose, various methods will be applied for the synthesis of the heterogeneous photocatalysts, e.g., combustion, calcination, sol-gel, and hydrothermal methods. Besides, the prepared photocatalysts will be utilized for the degradation of some organic compounds as characteristic water pollutants. In order to increase the efficiency of the water treatment, the photocatalytic method will be combined with another advanced oxidation procedure, namely, ozonation.
Required language skills: English Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2022-08-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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