Enhancement of electron scavenging by water-soluble fullerenes
US9950977B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 2015 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/549
- WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Polyhydroxyfullerenes (PHFs) having enhanced electron scavenging capabilities have a ratio of non-hydroxyl functional groups to hydroxyl functional groups that is less than or equal to 0.3. When combined with a semiconductor photocatalyst, such as titanium dioxide nanoparticles, the PHFs provide a photocatalyst for degradation of chemical and biological contaminates with an efficiency of at least twice that of titanium dioxide nanoparticles free of PHFs. The PHFs are included in these catalysts at a weight ratio to titanium dioxide of about 0.001 to about 0.003, whereas significantly lower and higher ratios do not achieve the highly improved photodegradation capability. PHFs outside of the desired structure are shown to be of little value for photodegradation, and can be inhibiting to the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. The enhanced electron scavenging PHFs can be employed as a component of materials for solar cells, field effect transistors, and radical scavengers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.