Photocatalytic process
A photocatalytic cleaner for air or water includes a photocatalytic material coating a substrate. An anode, positioned a predetermined distance from the substrate, includes a phosphor that emits ultraviolet light in response to bombardment by electrons from a field emission cathode emitting electrons in response to an electric field. The field emission cathode may be a carbon based field emitter material including incorporating carbon nanotubes.
1. A photocatalytic cleaner for air or water, comprising:
a photocatalytic material coating a substrate;
an anode, positioned a predetermined distance from the substrate, comprising a phosphor adapted to emit ultraviolet light in response to bombardment by electrons; and
a field emission cathode, positioned a predetermined distance from the anode, operable for emitting electrons in response to an electric field.
2. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 1 , wherein the field emission cathode further comprises a carbon based field emitter material to emit the electrons.
3. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 2 , wherein the carbon based field emitter material comprises carbon nanotubes.
4. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 3 , wherein the field emission cathode and anode are positioned relative to each other in a diode lamp configuration.
5. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 4 , wherein the diode lamp configuration results in a rectangular-shaped lamp.
6. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 4 , wherein the diode lamp configuration results in a cylindrically shaped lamp.
7. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 3 , wherein the field emission cathode and anode are positioned relative to each other in a triode lamp configuration.
8. A photocatalytic apparatus comprising:
a photocatalytic material;
an anode, positioned a predetermined distance from the photocatalytic material, comprising a phosphor adapted to emit ultraviolet light in response to bombardment by electrons; and
a field emission cathode, positioned a predetermined distance from the anode, operable for emitting electrons in response to an electric field towards the phosphor.
9. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the field emission cathode further comprises a carbon based field emitter material to emit the electrons.
10. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein the carbon based field emitter material comprises carbon nanotubes.
11. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the field emission cathode and anode are positioned relative to each other in a diode lamp configuration.
12. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the field emission cathode and anode are positioned relative to each other in a triode lamp configuration.
13. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the triode lamp configuration results in a rectangular-shaped lamp.
14. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the triode lamp configuration results in a cylindrically shaped lamp.
15. A method for cleaning a fluid comprising:
activating a field emitter with an electric field so that the field emitter emits electrons towards a phosphor;
the phosphor emitting ultraviolet light in response to bombardment by the electrons emitted by the field emitter;
a photocatalytic material activated by bombardment by the ultraviolet light emitted by the phosphor; and
passing the fluid in contact with the photocatalytic material.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the field emitter comprises a carbon based field emitter.
17. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein the carbon based field emitter comprises carbon nanotubes.