DTU Studieprojekt - Water pollutant degradation on doped ZnO films by visible light photocatalysis

Water pollutant degradation on doped ZnO films by visible light photocatalysis

Udbyder
Vejleder
Sted
København og omegn
Background
Photocatalysis is an emerging green technology using the property of certain materials to trigger chemical reactions under light irradiation. Pollutant removal from water and air; hydrogen production by water splitting; high value chemical and fertilizer production based on CO2 capture are just a few among the potential applications of this promising technology. An important issue to be solved is that the most efficient photocatalyst materials such as ZnO can only work under UV irradiation due to their relatively large band gap. The aim of this project is to explore the feasibility of harvesting visible light in ZnO films by doping with Er and Yb, which can result in “up-conversion” of low energy photons and thus allow using a much larger portion of the sun irradiation spectrum. Tests will be made by studying the degradation of some industrial coloring dye molecules in water solutions.

During this project you are going to:
-Manufacture photocatalyst films on glass substrates using a green chemistry deposition technique.

-Conduct characterization of your samples by means of X-ray diffraction, optical and electron microscopy, as well as various spectroscopy techniques.

-Conduct experiments on water pollutant degradation to evaluate the photocatalytic performance of your samples.

-Analyze your results using theoretical models and compare them with published data.

Learning objectives:
At the end of this project you will be able to:

-Manufacture photocatalyst films.

-Explain the principles of photocatalysis and of its potential applications.

-Use various experimental characterization tools (X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, thermal analysis, spectroscopy) and explain their basic principles as well as limitations.

-Critically evaluate your results.

-Draw links between processing parameters, microstructure and performance.

-Perform an efficient literature search and compare your own results to published data.

-Present your results to a scientific audience under conditions equivalent to an international conference.

-Write the draft of a scientific publication.

Contact: Jean-Claude Grivel (jean@dtu.dk) – DTU Energy, building 301 (from 11/2019).

Kontakt
Virksomhed/organisation
DTU Energi

Navn
Jean-Claude Grivel

Stilling
Seniorforsker

Mail
jean@dtu.dk

Vejleder-info
Bachelor i General Engineering
Vejleder
Jean-Claude Grivel

ECTS-point
15 - 20

Type
Bachelorprojekt