Overview of Research

The group is internationally recognised for research programmes involving the preparation and characterisation of photocatalytic materials with application towards environmental remediation, medical device decontamination and solar energy harvesting. Initially research focussed on the photocatalytic purification of water contaminated with persistent organic chemicals e.g. pesticides, and the disinfection of water contaminated with disinfectant resistant pathogens e.g. Cryptosporidium parvum.

Other applications include the splitting of water using solar energy to generate oxygen and hydrogen or reduce CO2 to fuel. More recently the group has applied photocatalytic coatings for the decontamination and sterilisation of medical devices. A range of methods are employed to prepare photocatalytic materials and coatings including plasma, sol gel and electrolytic processes. There is also an interest in biosensor applications of these materials.

Key Projects

Developments over the last decade have led to an exponential growth in research concerning semiconductor photocatalysis and related applications e.g. self cleaning coatings, dye sensitized photo-voltaic cells, photo-electrolytic and photo-galvanic cells for solar energy applications, water treatment and purification, air purification, and sensors.

Nanometer-scale control in the preparation of metal oxide semiconductor films is critical to the photo-activity. The use of cutting-edge thin film deposition techniques, supported by advanced surface analysis and characterisation, is essential for the group to remain at the forefront of this highly competitive field. Particle size, crystal phase, dopant density, stoichiometry, etc. all have an effect on the photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical properties of semiconductor materials.

The group has participated in FP4, FP5 and FP6 EC projects involving photocatalysis. Currently we are a lead partner in an FP6 INCO-Dev project aiming to develop enhanced solar disinfection technology to reduce the incidence of waterborne disease in developing countries where access to clean drinking water is a major problem. Previously our group has demonstrated that photocatalysis is effective for killing chorine resistant pathogens in water.

Other current projects investigate the use of photocatalytic coatings for the ‘self-sterilisation’ and ‘self-decontamination’ of implantable medical devices and surgical instruments. Challenges in the deposition of photo-active coatings onto temperature labile organic materials and protection against photocatalytic degradation these materials have been overcome. The group is also taking a lead in the development of novel photocatalytic materials such as TiO2 nanotubes. These structures have great potential for photocatalytic applications due to their enormous surface area and may find application in other fields such as dye sensitised solar cells, sensors, and bioactive coatings.

IP protection and commercialisation of the research generated is important. Currently the group has two Proof-of-Concept projects funded by Invest Northern Ireland. The first is aimed at the commercialisation of a point-of-use photocatalytic water purification device and the second aimed at commercialisation of photocatalytic coatings for medical device sterilisation in order to prevent patient to patient transmission of disease.

Collaboration

The group collaborates with universities and research institutes both nationally and internationally including; Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, (France), Ben Gurion University (Israel), Groningen University (Netherlands), University of Southampton (UK), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Ireland), Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland), Edinburgh University (UK), University Havana (Cuba). We are a lead partner in the EU FP6 INCO-Dev project SODISWATER collaborating with eight other partners throughout Europe and Africa for the development of solar water disinfection technology.

Industrial Partners

For further information please contact the Group Leader: Dr Tony Byrne

E: j.byrne@ulster.ac.uk

T: +44 (0) 28 9036 8941