Understanding the Structure and Durability of Nano-Anatase TiO2 Cement-Based Materials

普通建筑材料，包括混凝土，现在可以通过引入纳米二氧化钛(二氧化钛)来进行光催化，特别是以四方锐钛矿型的形式。在水、氧气和紫外线或近紫外光的存在下，二氧化钛表面会发生一系列反应，使含有二氧化钛的材料表面具有自清洁、生物杀灭和雾霾消减的特性。特别是，光催化被动消减雾霾的潜力引起了人们的极大关注。这项研究将表征光催化活性材料与其水泥基基材之间的长期相容性。一项全面的研究计划将依赖于微观化学分析和纳米/微米尺度和机械性能(如纳米压痕、微硬度、抗压强度)的整体测量，以更好地了解初始材料的结构和性能，表征光催化对表面和体积性能的影响，并描述材料变量和环境参数对性能的影响。验证具有雾霾消减能力的水泥基建筑材料的长期性能，并对其进行潜在的改进，是这项研究内在的更广泛的影响。通过在多学科研究环境中对不同的研究生和本科生研究人员进行指导和培训，发表研究成果，以及由研究团队S参加国际研究会议，将产生更大的影响。最后，研究小组将开发关于光催化建筑材料主题的高中适当教程，并将寻求通过佐治亚理工学院现有的门户网站公开提供这些教程。

Ordinary construction materials, including concrete, can now be made photocatalytically active by the introduction of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2), particularly in the tetragonal anatase form. In the presence of water, oxygen, and ultraviolet or near-ultraviolet light, a series of reactions occurs on the TiO2 surface, imparting self-cleaning, biocidal, and smog-abating qualities to the surfaces of the materials which contain it. In particular, the potential for passive smog-abatement by photocatalysis has attracted much attention. This research will characterize the long-term compatibility between photocatalytically active materials and their cement-based substrates. A comprehensive research plan, which relies upon microchemical analysis and nano/micro-scale and bulk measures of mechanical properties (e.g., nanoindentation, microhardness, compressive strength), will be used to better understand the initial material structure and properties, characterize the influence of photocatalysis on surface and bulk properties, and describe the influence of material variables and environmental parameters on performance. Verification of, and potential improvements to, the long-term performance of cement-based construction materials with smog-abating capabilities is an intrinsic broader impact of this research. Additional impact will be made through the mentoring and training of a diverse group of graduate and undergraduate researchers in a multi-disciplinary research environment, the publication of research findings, and by the research team?s participation in international research conferences. Finally, the research team will develop high-school appropriate tutorials on the topic of photocatalytic construction materials and will seek to make these publicly available through existing web portals at Georgia Tech.