Novel photocatalyst hybrids materials to tackle antimicrobial resistance using light, air and water

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New solid materials will be synthesized that are capable of decontaminating harmful pathogens (viruses, bacteria) and antibiotics/pharmaceuticals in water, to reduce the global threat of antimicrobial resistance and to reduce infection spread in areas where access to clean water is limited. Heterogeneous photocatalysts are solid materials which become excited upon irradiation with light, promoting the excitation of an electron from the valence band to the conduction band of a metal oxide. The negatively charged electron can react with oxygen to create superoxide, a powerful oxidising agent that can rapidly react with adjacent chemicals or pathogens, reducing toxicity and contamination. These catalysts are also capable of creating hydrogen peroxide from water and air, another powerful oxidising agent. This project will investigate how hybrid semiconductors can be used in the field of water remediation. Powdered semiconductors will be synthesized and the physical and chemical properties that govern catalytic activity for bother superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generation will be studied through advanced spectroscopic techniques and in situ characterisation These features will be related to activity to determine the mechanism of action