Photocatalytic compositions and methods for their preparation and use
View Patent ↗A photocatalytic composition is disclosed that includes a silver halide in combination with one or more rare earth elements. The composition may be used for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants.
1. A photocatalyst comprising a silver halide combined with one or more rare earth elements selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb, and Lu, wherein the photocatalyst has activity as a UV or a visible light photocatalyst, and wherein the elements have a weight % of about 1% to about 5%.
2. The photocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rare earth elements is selected from the group consisting of Ce, Sm, and Eu.
3. The photocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein a cycle life of the photocatalyst is at least about 20% greater than a cycle life of the silver halide without the rare earth element(s).
4. The photocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein a cycle life of the photocatalyst is at least about 6 cycles.
5. The photocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein a light trapping property of the photocatalyst is about 5% to about 15% greater than a light trapping property of the silver halide without the rare earth element(s).
6. The photocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein a separation of photo-generated electron-holes of the photocatalyst is greater than a separation of photo-generated electron-holes of the silver halide without the rare earth element(s).
7. The photocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein a separation of photo-generated electron-holes of the photocatalyst is about 5% to about 15% greater than a separation of photo-generated electron-holes of the silver halide without the rare earth element(s).
8. The photocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein the photocatalyst has a degradation efficiency of at least about 70%.
9. The photocatalyst of claim 1 , wherein molar ratio of the rare earth element to the silver halide is about 0.01% to about 10%.