Objectives:

The main objective of this project is the synthesis of some novel photocatalysts with high efficiency under UV and visible light, intended for waste water treatment by economical and time-efficient technology, using advanced materials incorporating inorganic micro-/nanoparticles. Following the successful application of ZnO-Ag nanocomposites in the photocatalytic decomposition of organic compounds found as pollutants in waste water, this new project will focus on the preparation of novel micro-/nanostructured materials with photocatalytic activity, containing ZnO-doped particles as fillers for new, as well as well-known, polymer matrices. The composites will be obtained via photochemical polymerization, and then thoroughly characterized as to establish their structure-properties relationships. Furthermore, these materials will be tested with regard to their suitability for use in the photochemical purification of waste water by initiating the photochemical degradation of dyes contained in the polluted water samples. A comparative study of the photochemical degradation rate of the dyes in the presence of these new photocatalysts under UV and visible light irradiation will also be undertaken.

To fufill the project aim, the proposed research envisages some specific objectives, as follows:
O1: Preparation of micro-/nanoparticles: synthesis of ZnO particles of various sizes; doping with different metals; particles characterization.
O2: Design and synthesis of new (meth)acrylic monomers for photopolymerization reactions.
O3: Development of novel hybrid materials containing ZnO and/or ZnO-doped micro-/nanoparticles: preparation of composites; in-depth characterization of the hybrid materials.
O4: Study of the photocatalytic effectiveness of the new hybrid catalysts by comparatively assessing the photochemical degradation of some dyes in their presence, under UV and visible light exposure.