Fotokatalizie

Fotokatalizie is a chemical process that utilizes a fotokatalizator, a substance that accelerates a chemical reaction when exposed to light. Typically, this fotokatalizator is a semiconductor material. When light of an appropriate wavelength strikes the fotokatalizator, electrons are excited, creating electron-hole pairs. These charge carriers can then migrate to the surface of the fotokatalizator and participate in redox reactions with adsorbed chemical species.

The most common fotokatalizator is titanium dioxide (TiO2). Other semiconductor materials like zinc oxide (ZnO) and cadmium sulfide (CdS) are also used. The effectiveness of a fotokatalizator depends on its band gap, surface area, and crystal structure.

Fotokatalizie has a wide range of applications. One prominent area is environmental remediation, where it is used to degrade organic pollutants in air and water. This can include the breakdown of pesticides, industrial dyes, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In medicine, fotokatalizie is being explored for antimicrobial therapies and cancer treatment. It can also be used for self-cleaning surfaces, air purification systems, and in the production of hydrogen fuel through water splitting. The efficiency of fotokatalizie can be enhanced by doping the semiconductor material with other elements or by combining it with other nanomaterials. Research continues to focus on developing more efficient and cost-effective fotokatalytic materials and processes.