Microwave assisted photocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis for cleaning with air

利用可再生能源和温室气体（H2O, N2, CO2, CH4, N2O）生产可持续燃料和化学品的节能技术，净化空气中的氮氧化物和挥发性有机化合物等污染物，以及表面和水的消毒，是英国净零战略的组成部分：重建绿色，包括使NHS净零的计划。最近发布的《2023年联合国可持续发展目标报告》也反映了净零目标的雄心和挑战。我们将研究微波辅助光催化和多相催化如何作为低能量、低成本的解决方案来解决这些问题，在一个跨学科项目中，结合化学学院、卡迪夫催化研究所、工程学院和药学与制药科学学院的专业知识，利用化学、催化、微波工程、材料科学、高级表征、光谱学和微生物控制。我们以前观察到，施加微波磁场和电场可以提高催化反应的选择性和产率。该项目将研究如何通过合理调整和控制半导体固体材料中调节电子-空穴对重组和转移的磁和电效应来提高催化剂的效率。微波催化和光催化都是通过促进电子从价带向电导带在半导体中产生电子-空穴对。虽然光催化使用太阳能，微波辅助多相催化使用选择性加热，但对所涉及机制的基本理解将用于改进这两种技术。在项目期间，我们将运用这一认识来开发更有效的催化和光催化工艺，用于空气和水消毒清洁，以消除化学和微生物污染物。开发的催化剂的抗菌性能以及微波/光诱导反应物质对一系列与水消毒相关的微生物的相互作用将被探索，同时将结合包括电子显微镜和流式细胞术在内的一系列协议来研究杀微生物作用的机制。该项目有可能通过开发利用水和空气的新消毒工艺，而不需要额外的化学品，改善获得清洁水的机会，并由此带来健康益处。

Energy efficient technologies to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals from renewables and greenhouse species (H2O, N2, CO2, CH4, N2O), decontamination of air from pollutants such as NOx and VOCs, and disinfection of surfaces and water, are an integral part of the UK Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener including the plan to make the NHS Net Zero. The Net Zero ambition and challenges are also reflected in the recently published 2023 report on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We will investigate how microwave assisted photocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis can be used as low energy, low cost solutions to address these problems, in an interdisciplinary project using chemistry, catalysis, microwave engineering, materials science, advanced characterisation, spectroscopy and microbial control combining the expertise in the School of Chemistry, Cardiff Catalysis Institute, the School of Engineering and The School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. We have previously observed that applying a microwave magnetic and electric fields can improve the selectivity and yield of catalytic reactions. The project will investigate how the efficiency of catalysts can be improved through rationally tuning and controlling magnetic and electric effects that regulate electron-hole pair recombination and transfer in semiconducting solid materials. Microwave assisted catalysis and photocatalysis both generate electron-hole pairs in semiconductors by promoting electrons from the valence band to the conductance band. Although photocatalysis uses solar energy and microwave assisted heterogeneous catalysis uses selective heating, the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved will be used to improve both technologies. During the project we will apply this understanding to develop more active catalysis and photocatalytic processes for cleaning with air and water disinfection to eliminate chemical and microbial contaminants. The antimicrobial properties of the catalysts developed and the interactions of microwave/light-induced reactive species will be explored against a range of microorganisms pertinent to water disinfection, whilst the mechanisms of microbicidal action will be investigated combining a range of protocols including electron microscopy and flow cytometry. The project has the potential to improve access to clean water and the health benefits associated with that by developing new processes for disinfection using water and air, without the need for additional chemicals.