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Photocatalytic Disinfection by Metal-Free Materials

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Advances in Photocatalytic Disinfection

Part of the book series: Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technology ((GCST))

Abstract

Recent years have seen a surge of interest in the application of solar energy for water disinfection by using semiconductor photocatalysts. Seeking visible-light-driven (VLD) photocatalysts for efficient solar energy conversion for bacterial disinfection has become an intensifying endeavor in this field. While overwhelming attention has been given to metal-based semiconductors, researchers have turned their focus on metal-free materials for photocatalysis in recent years. Metal-free photocatalysts have unique advantages of earth abundance, low cost, simple structure, simple synthesis, and environmental friendliness. This chapter presents an overview of current research activities that center on the preparation, characterization, and application of metal-free photocatalysts for water disinfection under visible-light irradiation. It is organized into three major parts, according to the classification of the metal-free photocatalysts. One is graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photocatalysts. The other is graphene-based photocatalysts, and the third is elemental photocatalysts that are made of only one single element. The material preparation and modification, photocatalytic mechanism, and bacterial disinfection mechanism are also reviewed in detail. Finally, it is concluded with a discussion about research opportunities and challenges facing the development of metal-free photocatalysts for bacterial disinfection using solar energy.

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  1. School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China

    Wanjun Wang, Dehua Xia & Po Keung Wong

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  1. Wanjun Wang
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  2. Dehua Xia
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  1. Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

    Taicheng An

  2. Centre for Clean Environment and Energy, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

    Huijun Zhao

  3. School of Life Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Po Keung Wong

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© 2017 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany

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Wang, W., Xia, D., Wong, P.K. (2017). Photocatalytic Disinfection by Metal-Free Materials. In: An, T., Zhao, H., Wong, P. (eds) Advances in Photocatalytic Disinfection. Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53496-0_7

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