Novel photocatalytic systems

Despite this, commercial applications of photocatalysis thus far have been dominated by pollutant destruction materials, most of which employ TiO₂. Assessment methods which probe the underlying photocatalytic response as regards the electron/hole generation, separation, migration and subsequent reaction are important for the intentional design of superior photocatalytic systems, as are methods which allow easy assessment and demonstration of photocatalytic activity for commercial purposes.

In this thesis, the former need is addressed in two chapters detailing photoinduced absorption spectroscopy (PIAS) studies, and the latter in two chapters pertaining to photocatalytic activity indicator inks (<i>paii</i>s). A methylene blue <i>paii</i> is proposed as a superior alternative to the resazurin <i>paii </i>which forms the basis of an international standard for photocatalytic self-cleaning assessment (Chapter 3), and a highly sensitive Ag based <i>paii </i>is reported and shown capable of assessing photocatalytic materials which have previously proven too low in activity for assessment by existing ISO standard tests (Chapter 4).