New generation of 3D flow-through photocatalytic reactor with nanostructured TiO2 surface

The objective of this project is to build a new generation of 3D flow-through photocatalytic reactor for the pollutant degradation in the gas phase according to ISO standards (ISO 22197).For this, anodized 3D Ti-based scaffolds, prepared by additive manufacturing, with different lattices, will be employed, filling up the complete active reactor volume. Mathematical simulations of the gas flow, the light distribution and the calculation of the geometrical surface will be used for different lattice designs to find such 3D scaffolds, leading to the highest photocatalytic degradation rates. Due to the anodization, the scaffolds´ surfaces will be nanostructured with TiO2 nanotube (TNT) or porous oxide (PO) photocatalytic layers increasing the reactive surface area of the scaffolds significantly. An additional modification of the TNT and PO layers with nanoparticles or coatings of different secondary materials will increase the surface area further and, depending on the choice of the material, might shift the light absorption of the scaffolds from the UV to the visible light.

Keywords:

3D Ti scaffolds; additive manufacturing; titanium dioxide; nanostructures;anodization; flow-through reactor; photocatalysis; environmental pollution, gas phase.