Heterogeneous Photocatalysis and Prospects of TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalytic DeNOxing the Atmospheric Environment

oleh: Nick Serpone

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2018-11-01

Deskripsi

This article reviews the efforts of the last two decades to deNOxify the atmospheric environment with TiO<sub>2</sub>-based photocatalytic materials supported on various cementitious-like substrates. Prior to undertaking this important aspect of applied photocatalysis with metal-oxide emiconductor photocatalysts, however, it is pertinent to describe and understand the fundamentals of Heterogeneous Photocatalysis. The many attempts done in a laboratory setting to degrade (deNOxify) the major components that make up the NO<sub><i>x</i></sub>, namely nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>), but most importantly the efforts expended in deNOxifying the real environment upon depositing titania-based coatings on various model and authentic infrastructures, such as urban roads, highway noise barriers, tunnels, and building external walls among others, are examined. Both laboratory and outdoor experimentations have been performed toward NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> being oxidized to form nitrates (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>&#8722;</sup>) that remain adsorbed on the TiO<sub>2</sub>-based photocatalytic surfaces (except in tunnels&#8212;<i>indoor</i> walls) but get subsequently dislodged by rain or by periodic washings of the infrastructures. However, no serious considerations have been given to the possible conversion of NO<sub><i>x</i></sub> via photocatalytic reduction back to N<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub> gases that would restore the atmospheric environment, as the adsorbed nitrates block the surface-active sites of the photocatalyst and when washed-off ultimately cause unduly damages to the environment.