TiO2 - the 'most useful material in the world'

Led by Associate Professor Darren Sun, team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) after five years of research has successfully developed a new material that they call multi-use titanium dioxide (TiO ₂ ). , can be used to produce hydrogen and clean water from waste water, make antibacterial dressings or double the life of batteries.

Professor Sun said the idea of making the material appears when he is seeking to develop an antibacterial water filter. In particular, TiO ₂ crystals are converted into nanofibers for insertion into flexible membranes. Depending on the purpose of use, the membrane can be combined with carbon, zinc, copper or tin compounds.

For example, when used to filter water, the nanoparticles perform two main tasks. First, it filters out dirt, toxins and bacteria in water. This feature also allows it to be desalinated so it can also be used to filter seawater into fresh water. Second , when exposed to sunlight, it separates hydrogen from waste water and uses it to make fuel cells or to power plants. Experts say in one hour, multipurpose TiO ₂ can generate 1.53ml of hydrogen from a liter of waste water, three times more than the expensive platinum catalyst.

In addition, the team also created black crystalline TiO ₂ in crystalline form, which could be used for the production of solar cells and lithium-ion batteries. Previous research has shown that lithium-ion battery life has an anode made of TiO ₂ nanoparticles that are twice as efficient as conventional batteries. It is known that experts are looking for partners to commercialize this new multi-featured material.