Evaluation of the photocatalytic activity of modified silver iodide semiconductors with electron beam irradiation

• Grant number: 23/11582-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Elson Longo da Silva
• Grantee: Lucas Guerra Caires Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Population growth increases demand for services and products which contribute to the very expressive generation of effluents with environmental impactssignificant in water bodies. Technologies for water treatmentcontaminated with pollutants lack methods to inactivate these wastes,mainly dyes, antibiotics, pesticides and other substances that are alsoclassified as emerging organic pollutants. An effective technological method forto degrade these pollutants and inactivate microorganisms is photocatalysis, a processadvanced oxidative agent that favors the emergence of oxidation-reduction reactions on the surfaceof semiconductors. The photoactive species generated degrade pollutants and cankill bacteria, when in contact with them they cause oxidative stress intheir membranes. Silver-based semiconductors when modified by a beam of(EBI) leads to the formation of metallic silver on the surface of these materialsincreasing its bactericidal activity, in addition, it creates a density of defects with theemergence of new photocatalytic sites compared to non-modified. This Research Project seeks to study the synthesis and characterization of iodideof silver (AgI) modified with EBI applying a potential difference of 40, 60 and 80kV targeting its photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic pollutantsemerging.