Photocatalysts and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

Photocatalysts and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The photocatalyst includes a TIO2 ultra-nanoparticle having a single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom positioned as an engineered defect within the particle and a single metal catalyst atom bound proximal to the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom. The method of making the photocatalyst includes generating a plurality of ultra-nano TIO2 particles, each having a single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom positioned as an engineered defect within the particle. The method further includes photodepositing a single metal catalyst atom proximal to the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom for at least a portion of the ultra-nano TIO2 particles, thereby creating the disclosed photocatalyst. The single metal catalyst atom is in a positive oxidation state and can be Pt, Pd, Ir, Ru, Rh, Os, Re, Au, Ni, Zn, or Cu.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.