Atomically thin photocatalysts unlock new pollution-degradation capabilities

This article was originally posted on Chemical Engineering Online.

Summary

University of Birmingham researchers developed a sustainable, scalable high-strain exfoliation method that disperses layered precursors in water/ethanol and mechanically overcomes van der Waals forces to produce atomically thin photocatalyst micro- and nanosheets. This approach unlocks new capabilities for catalytically breaking down persistent water pollutants.

What do you see as the biggest hurdle to deploying these shear-exfoliated photocatalysts in real-world water treatment—materials cost, reactor integration, or regulatory validation?

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have demonstrated a new production method for ultra-thin photocatalysts, unlocking new capabilities for the catalytic breakdown of persistent water pollutants. The production method takes layered materials as the precursor, disperses them in a sustainable solvent (water and ethanol), and applies high strain rates to the liquid and solid phases in the dispersion. This mechanical strain overcomes the van der Waals attraction that binds the material together, separating the layers into micro- and nano-scale sheets.

The post Atomically thin photocatalysts unlock new pollution-degradation capabilities appeared first on Chemical Engineering.

Atomically thin photocatalysts unlock new pollution-degradation capabilities

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