2021

Task 3.1 The electronic structure of the materials was evaluated, optimized, and presented an excellent photocatalytic activity by studying the optical properties and assessing the energy of the forbidden band.

Task 3.2 The following methods synthesized the TiHO powders: by the synthesis of titanium dioxide by the sol-gel method, followed by heat treatment at temperatures between 400 and 800°C, to control the crystalline phases of anatase and rutile, then chemical reduction with sodium borohydride, to obtain the black TiO₂ powder which shows defects of Ti³⁺ and oxygen vacancies. Also, at this stage, a new method of obtaining TiHO started by oxidizing TiH₂ with H₂O₂.

Task 3.3 - Material characterization: XRD analysis (crystallinity, structure, phase composition, crystallite size), SEM-EDX analysis (morphology, elemental analysis), insulating point (pH_zpc), BET specific surface area. The impact on the environment has been achieved through nanomaterial toxicity studies on green algae Chlorella Vulgaris.

Task 3.4 - Synchrotron measurements, for which we submitted a project “Defective black titanium oxide nanomaterials for high-efficiency photocatalysis” CERIC (proposal ID 20212076), which was funded, and the analyzes EPR, TEM and XRD for six samples (3 white TiO₂ samples and 3 black TiO₂ samples) were performed at NIMP - National Institute for Materials Physics.

Task 3.5 The photocatalytic activity of the materials synthesized by UTBV and IFE was investigated by studying the degradation efficiency of imidacloprid (IMD-pesticide) and amoxicillin (AMX-antibiotic), but also mineralization tests of pollutants by investigating TOC and TN in especially for AMX photodegradation tests.

Tasks 3.6 and 3.7 Dissemination of results and communication between project partners was achieved through the online project meeting that took place on October 26, 2021, the visit between 31.10-5.11.2021 of the project director Prof Andronic Luminita to the IFE project coordinator, Norway, participating with a guest paper at an online international school, publishing 2 ISI articles and preparing another 2 articles in collaboration with IFE, LEI.

The influence of TiO₂:NaBH₄ ratio on the black TiO₂ synthesis: A convenient and low-cost method for producing black TiO₂ materials by chemical reduction of TiO₂ with NaBH₄, in proportions of 4: 1, 2: 1 and 1: 1, at a temperature 350°C and in an inert atmosphere of argon are investigated in the TESTIMONIES project.

SEM images of white TiO₂ and black (B1, B2 and B3) powders