Trilateral research chairs initiative : final report
This project set out to use light to solve environmental issues that are of high importance in Africa and beyond. In addition, the project chairs regarded high quality personnel training as a major component of the research, as the generation of skilled scientists with the knowledge, abilities, and international network to solve long-term problems. Combined, the three research groups utilized their extensive experience in the use of light to trigger photophysical or photochemical processes, which capitalize on their complementary skills in synthesis, nanotechnology and application of photochemistry to health, such as therapeutics or diagnosis, as well as to environmental issues. Following the growing interest in combining nanomaterials with photosensitizers for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) and photodegradation of pollutants in water sanitation, the aim of the project, therefore, was to link metallic and/or metal oxide nano/micro-particles to materials that could enhance their environmental performance, for example by decorating them with metal nanostructures, or with porphyrin-type complexes such as metallophthalocyanines and metalloporphyrins to create new hybrid materials for their intelligent use in environmental control. For this, new materials were synthesized and characterized, and their applications on PACT, degradation of pollutants as well as photosterilization of potable water are being explored.
Auteur ou autrice(s) : Amuhaya, Edith, Scaiano, Juan, Nyokong, Tebello
Langage : Anglais
