Induction by Visible Light of Photocatalytic Water Decontamination by Use of Powders of Nonlinear Optic Material and Visible-Light Phosphor to Generate Dispersed Ultraviolet Light

Abstract

Huge, single-crystal nonlinear optic materials have been utilized for shortening the wavelength of high-power coherent light. If fine nonlinear optic powders can shorten wavelength of low-power incoherent visible light, they could be used in combination with fine visible-light phosphor powders to establish a dispersed ultraviolet-light source, which is considered effective for photocatalytic reactions.
This proposition was indirectly verified by the enhanced decomposition rate of Orange II in water by a photocatalytic powder of TiO₂ combined with nonlinear optic powder of reagent-grade LiNbO₃. With the dispersed ultraviolet-light source generated from powders of visible-light phosphor and LiNbO₃ from a single-crystal, the photocatalytic water decontamination rate of water was enhanced approximately 5-fold compared to the case of photocatalytic powder of TiO₂ alone.