Anatase crystal. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
A breakthrough in our understanding of the properties of titania (titanium dioxide) - the basis of self-cleaning window technology - has been made by scientists at UCL, uncovering a decades old misunderstanding that has clouded our knowledge of how mixed phase titania catalysts operate. By carrying out cutting-edge computational simulations alongside precise experimental measurements of physical samples of the mineral, scientists at UCL found that the widely accepted explanation for how mixed phase titania catalysts operate was misguided. Their discovery, published today , will help scientists and engineers develop improved photocatalysts, which have applications in clean energy technologies, self-cleaning coatings and a number of other fields. Since the 1970s, scientists have known that titania is a photocatalyst, a substance which can break down water and other substances on its surface when it is exposed to light. This occurs when photons in the light excite electrons within the atomic structure. These electrons then react with the water molecules, splitting them apart releasing hydrogen, which can be used as a green fuel. The same phenomenon also degrades organic molecules such as oils and grease.
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