Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial Facilities
Among different depollution methods, photocatalysis activated by solar light is promising for terrestrial outdoor applications. However, its use in underground structures and/or microgravity environments (e.g., extraterrestrial structures) is forbidden. In these cases, there are issues related to th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/6/996 |
| _version_ | 1827627077289902080 |
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| author | Lidia Mezzina Angelo Nicosia Fabiana Vento Guido De Guidi Placido Giuseppe Mineo |
| author_facet | Lidia Mezzina Angelo Nicosia Fabiana Vento Guido De Guidi Placido Giuseppe Mineo |
| author_sort | Lidia Mezzina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Among different depollution methods, photocatalysis activated by solar light is promising for terrestrial outdoor applications. However, its use in underground structures and/or microgravity environments (e.g., extraterrestrial structures) is forbidden. In these cases, there are issues related to the energy emitted from the indoor lighting system because it is not high enough to promote the photocatalytic mechanism. Moreover, microgravity does not allow the recovery of the photocatalytic slurry from the depolluted solution. In this work, the synthesis of a filmable nanocomposite based on semiconductor nanoparticles supported by photosensitized copolyacrylates was performed through a bulk in situ radical copolymerization involving a photosensitizer macromonomer. The macromonomer and the nanocomposites were characterized through UV-Vis, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopies, gel permeation chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the sensitized nanocomposites was studied through photodegradation tests of common dyes and recalcitrant xenobiotic pollutants, employing UV-Vis and visible range (λ > 390 nm) light radiations. The sensitized nanocomposite photocatalytic performances increased about two times that of the unsensitized nanocomposite and that of visible range light radiation alone (>390 nm). The experimental data have shown that these new systems, applied as thin films, have the potential for use in indoor deep underground and extraterrestrial structures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:07:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2dacf85ce32d4f61a1415c5737a070ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:07:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-2dacf85ce32d4f61a1415c5737a070ad2023-11-30T21:46:44ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912022-03-0112699610.3390/nano12060996Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial FacilitiesLidia Mezzina0Angelo Nicosia1Fabiana Vento2Guido De Guidi3Placido Giuseppe Mineo4Department of Chemical Sciences and INSTM UdR of Catania, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences and INSTM UdR of Catania, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences and INSTM UdR of Catania, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences and INSTM UdR of Catania, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences and INSTM UdR of Catania, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, ItalyAmong different depollution methods, photocatalysis activated by solar light is promising for terrestrial outdoor applications. However, its use in underground structures and/or microgravity environments (e.g., extraterrestrial structures) is forbidden. In these cases, there are issues related to the energy emitted from the indoor lighting system because it is not high enough to promote the photocatalytic mechanism. Moreover, microgravity does not allow the recovery of the photocatalytic slurry from the depolluted solution. In this work, the synthesis of a filmable nanocomposite based on semiconductor nanoparticles supported by photosensitized copolyacrylates was performed through a bulk in situ radical copolymerization involving a photosensitizer macromonomer. The macromonomer and the nanocomposites were characterized through UV-Vis, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopies, gel permeation chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the sensitized nanocomposites was studied through photodegradation tests of common dyes and recalcitrant xenobiotic pollutants, employing UV-Vis and visible range (λ > 390 nm) light radiations. The sensitized nanocomposite photocatalytic performances increased about two times that of the unsensitized nanocomposite and that of visible range light radiation alone (>390 nm). The experimental data have shown that these new systems, applied as thin films, have the potential for use in indoor deep underground and extraterrestrial structures.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/6/996photocatalysiscopolyacrylatesvisible light radiationporphyrinsdepollutionspace facilities |
| spellingShingle | Lidia Mezzina Angelo Nicosia Fabiana Vento Guido De Guidi Placido Giuseppe Mineo Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial Facilities Nanomaterials photocatalysis copolyacrylates visible light radiation porphyrins depollution space facilities |
| title | Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial Facilities |
| title_full | Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial Facilities |
| title_fullStr | Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial Facilities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial Facilities |
| title_short | Photosensitized Thermoplastic Nano-Photocatalysts Active in the Visible Light Range for Potential Applications Inside Extraterrestrial Facilities |
| title_sort | photosensitized thermoplastic nano photocatalysts active in the visible light range for potential applications inside extraterrestrial facilities |
| topic | photocatalysis copolyacrylates visible light radiation porphyrins depollution space facilities |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/6/996 |
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