Rate
Global assessment shows that the planetary boundary corresponding to chemical pollution has been exceeded. Synthetic organic contaminants include microplastics, pesticides, and wastewater dyes. They can be found ubiquitously in the environment and pose a risk to human and environmental health.¹When a photocatalyst absorbs a photon of light, which is equal to or greater than its bandgap, an electron is promoted to higher energy levels. Electrons in the conduction band can reduce the strong bonds in pollutants, whilst holes in the valence band oxidise them. Research aims: To synthesise large redox potential photocatalysts with high pollutant mineralisation efficiency. Current photocatalysts have insufficient redox potentials to break the strong chemical bonds.³ To enhance the pollutant mineralisation efficiency of the photocatalysts by lanthanum doping.³ To investigate pollutant degradation efficiency in environmental matrices. The AgNbO₃ La 20 mol% sample showed the highest photocatalytic activity. The photocatalyst can degrade a variety of pollutants in many conditions. The superoxide radical anion drives pollutant degradation. Continue to lanthanum dope AgNbO₃ to determine whether larger degradation efficiencies can be achieved. Understand how the co-analytes in the field-derived sample inhibit activity. Optimise the synthesis of the other photocatalysts to increase activity.
