Abstract

The book deals with the environmentally friendly cleaning materials functionalized with TiO2, a widely known semiconductor giving rise to redox reactions under artificial or solar irradiation. The role of Titanium dioxide in the worldwide community is introduced first. The fundamental working principles of heterogeneous photocatalysis follow and a critical section on the semiconductor bulk and surface properties open the way to the differences between TiO2 blend features with respect to analogous thin film layouts. Then follows the main section of the book which deals with the techniques applied to manufactured commercial devices, ranging from glasses to textiles and from concrete and other construction materials to paintings. Also road asphalt and other devices, such as photocatalytic air conditioning machines are outlined. Last generation materials, not yet commercialized, and the deposition techniques applied to prepare them are also widely discussed. The final part of the book covers the difficult and modern topic of standardization and comparison of performance of photocatalytic processes and in particular the guidelines proposed by various worldwide organizations for standardization are discussed. The book covers the general matters as well as the practical applications with the supporting methods discussed in detail. This book brings together a team of highly experienced and well-published experts in the field, providing a comprehensive view of the applications of supported titanium dioxide.
Vincenzo Augugliaro is a Full Professor of Transport Phenomena at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Palermo. During his scientific career, he has contributed to the following fields: chemical absorption kinetics, biochemical reactor modelling, diffusional kinetics in metalliding alloys, chemical kinetics of heterogeneous photocatalytic systems; modelling of heterogeneous photoreactors, radiation field modelling in absorbing-reacting media, and advanced oxidation processes for environment remediation. For the last 30 years his main research topic has been TiO2-based photocatalysis and in particular his recent research deals with the modelling of thin-film reactors. He is the author of many papers in international journals, communications at international conferences and book chapters. He has also been the guest editor of various special issues and co-chairman of the international conference SPEA5 held in Palermo in 2008. Vittorio Loddo received an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Palermo, a PhD degree from the University Federico II of Naples and he is now an Assistant Professor at the University of Palermo. During his scientific career, he has contributed to the following fields: chemical kinetics of heterogeneous photocatalytic systems; modelling of heterogeneous photoreactors, radiation field modelling in absorbing-reacting media, advanced oxidation processes for environment remediation and green synthesis. He works mainly in modelling of photocatalytic reactors where TiO2 is supported as a thin film and he spent time at Plataforma Solar de Almeria, Spain in order to test the developed photocatalytic devices under solar irradiation. He is the author of many papers in international journals, communications at international conferences and book chapters. Mario Pagliaro is a chemistry researcher and author based at Palermo's CNR where he leads the Organic Solar Sicily's Research Pole and the Institute for Scientific Methodology. His research interests lie at the interface of materials science, chemistry, and biology. Mario's laboratory currently collaborates with researchers in 10 countries and their joint work resulted in a number of achievements, including new commercial sol-gel catalysts and uses/conversions for glycerol by-product of biodiesel. He has co-authored 60 research papers, 4 patents, several book chapters, one book on glycerol's chemistry, two management books and his work has been featured in the national media. Giovanni Palmisano gained his PhD in Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Palermo, and an MSc cum laude in Chemical Engineering. He works on sol-gel materials and reactors for selective photo- and electro-catalytic conversions and photovoltaics based on dye sensitized solar cells. He is co-author of two books (on thin film photovoltaics), 25 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, 20 oral or poster communications and 2 book chapters. The recently co-authored feature article "Photocatalysis: A Promising Route for 21st Century Organic Chemistry" was the most accessed paper from the online version of ChemComm in August 2007.