IIT Mandi researchers design photocatalyst that can remove pollutants from water using sunlight

Indian Institute of Technology Mandi research team in collaboration with researchers from Yogi Vemana University has designed a novel photocatalyst that can remove pollutants from water while simultaneously generating hydrogen using sunlight.

The results of their work have been published in the international journal, ChemPhotoChem. The research team comprises  Dr. Venkata Krishnan, Associate Professor (Chemistry), School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi, along with his research scholars Ashish Kumar, Ajay Kumar, and Dr. M. V. Shankar from Yogi Vemana University along with his research scholar Vempuluru Navakoteswara Rao.

Dr. Venkata Krishnan, Associate Professor (Chemistry), School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi, said that in this research, researchers have designed a series of novel and multifunctional nanocomposite photocatalysts by coupling mesocrystals of calcium titanate with edge sulfur atoms enriched molybdenum disulfide and reduced graphene oxide.

“A specific and useful example of a photocatalytic reaction is the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. In addition, the researchers have also used these photocatalysts in the degradation of organic pollutants found in water” she added.  — TNS