Microwave assisted photocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis for cleaning with air

从可再生能源和温室物种(H2O、N2、CO2、CH4、N2O)中生产可持续燃料和化学品的节能技术、净化空气中NOx和VOCs等污染物以及对表面和水进行消毒，是英国净零战略：重建绿色包括让NHS净零计划在内的不可或缺的一部分。净零抱负和挑战也反映在最近发布的关于联合国可持续发展目标的2023年报告中。我们将结合化学学院、加的夫催化研究所、工程学院和制药学院的专业知识，研究如何将微波辅助光催化和多相催化作为低能源、低成本的解决方案来解决这些问题，该项目使用了化学、催化、微波工程、材料科学、先进表征、光谱和微生物控制等多个学科。我们已经观察到，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调节半导体固体材料中电子-空穴对复合和转移的磁效应和电效应来提高催化剂的效率。微波辅助催化和光催化都是通过将电子从价带推进到导带而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，但对涉及的机理的基本理解将用于改进这两种技术。在项目期间，我们将应用这一认识来开发更活跃的催化和光催化工艺，用于清洁和空气和水消毒，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/光诱导的活性物种对一系列与水消毒有关的微生物的相互作用将进行探索，同时将结合包括电子显微镜和流式细胞术在内的一系列技术来研究杀菌作用的机制。该项目有可能通过开发使用水和空气的新消毒工艺来改善清洁水的获取和相关的健康益处，而不需要额外的化学品。

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.