Titanium oxide-based catalysts are especially promising as one of the most stable, non toxic, easily available photofunctional materials known today. Previously, the successful development of second-generation titanium oxide photocatalysts using an advanced metal ion-implantation technique led to reactions that could be induced not only with UV but also visible light. Since then, not only has efficiency been improved but new materials and synthesis methods have also been developed.
Environmentally Benign Catalysts covers the various approaches in the design of efficient titanium oxide-based photocatalysts by such methods as sol-gel, precipitation, dip-coating, metal implantation and sputtering deposition. It will cover the most recent advances in TiO2 research and their potential applications as well as detailed and fundamental characterization studies on the active sites and mechanisms behind the reactions at the molecular level. Environmentally Benign Catalysts should serve not only as a text for research into photochemistry and photocatalysis but also to inspire more applications into environmentally-harmonious technologies.
General Introduction.- Synthesis and characterization studies of highly active titanium oxide-based photocatalysts.- Chemical methods for powdered and thin film photocatalysts.- Physical methods for powdered and thin film photocatalysts.- Development of titanium/zeolite photocatalysts.- Development of visible light-responsive titanium oxide photocatalysts.- Chemical methods.- Physical methods.- Photocatalytic reactions for environmentally-harmonious applications.- Purification of toxic compounds in water.- Purification of toxic compounds in air.- Photo-induced superhydrophilicity for materials with self-cleaning properties.- Photocatalytic water-splitting for the evolution of H2 from H2O.- Development of titanium oxide thin film solar cells.- Observations and Potential applications.- Synthesis of chemicals, e.g., selective oxidation of cyclohexane.- Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into hydrocarbons