December 1 - 6, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
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2024 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit
EN01.06.03

Enhanced TiO2 Photocatalysts with Open Porous Framework Structure for Improved Continuous Photocatalysis and Solar Fuel Production

When and Where

Dec 3, 2024
2:15pm - 2:30pm
Hynes, Level 3, Room 300

Presenter(s)

Co-Author(s)

Erik Greve1,Tim Tjards1,Marie Elis1,Jonas Lumma1,Salih Veziroglu1,Rainer Adelung1,Franz Faupel1,Fabian Schütt1

Kiel University1

Abstract

Erik Greve1,Tim Tjards1,Marie Elis1,Jonas Lumma1,Salih Veziroglu1,Rainer Adelung1,Franz Faupel1,Fabian Schütt1

Kiel University1
Titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) has emerged as a leading photocatalyst for solar energy conversion and environmental applications due to its high stability, non-toxicity, and suitability for carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) reduction [1]. This study presents synthesis and characterization of a novel TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalyst with enhanced mass transport properties to improve photocatalytic performance in continuous reactors. TiO<sub>2</sub>-Aerogels, with their high surface area and porosity, show potential for enhancing photocatalytic applications, especially in flow-through photoreactors. However, the small pore size (&lt; 1 µm) of TiO<sub>2</sub>-Aerogels limits their effectiveness due to purely diffusive mass transport [2]. To overcome this limitation, a highly open porous and interconnected TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalyst was synthesized through liquid phase deposition (LPD) adopted from Mbulanga et al. [3] on a sacrificial tetrapodal zinc oxide (t-ZnO) backbone. The resulting framework aeromaterial (FAM) features pores with diameters between 1 µm and 100 µm, a density of 0.03 g/cm<sup>3</sup> (99.3% porosity), and a gravimetric surface area of approximately 40,000 cm<sup>2</sup>/g. Unlike common TiO<sub>2</sub>-aerogels, this synthesis route produces an interconnected open-porous structure capable of withstanding gas flow velocities up to 0.16 m/s.<br/>Characterization of the synthesized TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysts was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The findings reveal a highly porous structure predominantly in the anatase phase post heat treatment at 500°C for 4 hours. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue under UV light irradiation (365 nm), with the highly porous TiO<sub>2</sub> demonstrating superior weight-specific activity compared to Degussa P25-TiO<sub>2</sub>. Additionally, a flow-through reactor was designed for the continuous decomposition of methylene blue, showcasing the practical capabilities of FAM-TiO<sub>2</sub> in real-world applications. These results highlight the potential of the synthesized TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic performance in environmental and energy applications, particularly in solar fuel production such as hydrogen and e-fuels.<br/>[1] Zhang, T. et al. <b>Chinese Journal of Catalysis</b>, 43, 2022, 2500–2529<br/>[2] Matter, F. et al. <b>Chem. Mater.</b>, 35, 2023, 7995–8008<br/>[3] Mbulanga, C.M. et al. <b>Appl. Phys. A</b>, 126, 2020, 1–14

Keywords

microscale | multiscale

Symposium Organizers

Virgil Andrei,
Rafael Jaramillo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rajiv Prabhakar,
Ludmilla Steier, University of Oxford

Session Chairs

Rajiv Prabhakar
Ludmilla Steier

In this Session