US 11,938,469 B1
Ultrathin layer photocatalysts
Yifeng Wang, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Ying-Bing Jiang, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Assigned to National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Ying-Bing Jiang, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Ying-Bing Jiang, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/895,507.
Int. Cl. B01J 35/00 (2006.01); B01J 21/06 (2006.01); B01J 35/08 (2006.01); B01J 35/10 (2006.01); A61L 2/08 (2006.01); A61L 2/10 (2006.01); A61L 9/20 (2006.01); C02F 1/72 (2023.01)
CPC B01J 35/004 (2013.01) [B01J 21/063 (2013.01); B01J 35/08 (2013.01); B01J 35/1009 (2013.01); A61L 2/084 (2013.01); A61L 2/088 (2013.01); A61L 2/10 (2013.01); A61L 9/205 (2013.01); C02F 1/725 (2013.01); C02F 2305/10 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A apparatus comprising:
a transparent ceramic substrate; and
a photocatalyst layer covering the transparent ceramic substrate, at least partially;
wherein the photocatalyst layer includes a semiconductor material that, upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation, forms a plurality of electrons and a plurality of holes that remain confined to the photocatalyst layer;
wherein the transparent ceramic substrate is spherical and has a diameter that is larger than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation;
wherein the transparent ceramic substrate is a selected from materials that have structures selected from the group consisting essentially of highly oriented crystalline, semi-crystalline, vitrified and amorphous materials;
wherein the photocatalyst layer comprises a mono or multiple atomic layer and has a thickness of less than 5 nanometers;
wherein the semiconductor material consists essentially of titanium dioxide, cerium dioxide or a solid solution of titanium dioxide and cerium dioxide;
wherein the transparent ceramic substrate has a diameter that is between 0.01 millimeter and 1 millimeter; and
wherein the photocatalyst layer and the transparent ceramic substrate form a particle having a specific surface area of less than 0.02 square meters per gram.