Robinson, Ben William;
(2018)
The Production of Photocatalytic Titania Films by Suspension Spray and Low Pressure Coating.
Doctoral thesis (Eng.D), UCL (University College London).
Abstract
This thesis details the application of suspension spray and low pressure coating (LPC) for the deposition of photocatalytic titanium dioxide coatings. Coatings such as these have a number of applications including water purification, air purification and energy generation. However, a limitation in the development of these desirable technologies is the demonstration of a low cost, readily scalable, coating method. This was therefore the aim of this thesis. The initial literature review discussed a number of coating methods, however highlighted suspension spraying, an adaptation of thermal spraying, as a promising technology. Nanostructured titania coatings were therefore produced via suspension plasma spray (SPS) and high velocity suspension flame spray (HVSFS). Spray parameters were altered to create a range of coatings and establish an understanding of process control (e.g. controlling phase composition, microstructure etc.). A comparison of the SPS and HVSFS coatings/processes was then made with suspension flame spray (SFS) results from the author’s previous master dissertation, “Suspension Flame Spray of Titanium Dioxide for Photolysis Devices", with additional analysis of samples produced therein. This was the first comparison to be made of the three processes ability to produce nano-titania coatings. SFS was found to have a number of advantages relative to the other suspension spray techniques, namely its low expense, so was selected for further optimisation. The effects of substrate preparation, coating thickness and fuel ratio were explored, with the latter two found to have significant influence on coating activity. A novel, alternative technique, for the extremely low cost deposition of photoactive surfaces, LPC was discovered as part of this process. A range of coatings were produced by LPC to gain an understanding of process control. The photocatalytic films were demonstrated to have significant air purification properties. LPC was therefore highlighted as a potential method for the production of air purifying building materials.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Eng.D |
| Title: | The Production of Photocatalytic Titania Films by Suspension Spray and Low Pressure Coating |
| Event: | UCL (University College London) |
| Language: | English |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Chemistry |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10043895 |
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