Seaweed biopolymer templated tio2 nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalysis under sunlight
Sulphur and carbon-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles synthesized using red seaweed carrageenans as a sustainable structure-directing agent. The solvent-free process produces photocatalysts with reduced band-gaps that efficiently degrade organic dyes under direct sunlight, offering a green approach to water treatment and pollutant removal.
Overview
This solution presents a sustainable method for producing high-performance photocatalysts using carrageenans, a group of sulfated polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds. These biopolymers serve as a structure-directing agent and a source of sulphur and carbon doping in titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, enabling visible-light-driven photocatalysis. The resulting nanoparticles demonstrate superior degradation of model organic pollutants, including reactive black-5, methylene blue, and methyl orange, under direct sunlight and ambient conditions. Compared to commercial TiO2, the seaweed-templated material exhibits reduced band-gaps and enhanced catalytic efficiency, making it well-suited for applications in water purification, dye removal from industrial effluent, and environmental remediation.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Solvent-free synthesis route using kappa (κ-), iota (ι-), and lambda (λ-) carrageenans as renewable, bio-derived templates
- Simultaneous sulphur and carbon doping of TiO2 nanoparticles during synthesis, eliminating the need for separate doping steps
- Reduced band-gap enabling photocatalytic activity under visible light and direct sunlight, not only UV
- Validated degradation of reactive black-5, methylene blue, and methyl orange under ambient conditions
- Performance tested against multiple light sources including UV lamps, direct sunlight, and solar concentrators
- Superior photocatalytic performance compared to commercially available TiO2 nanoparticles
Potential applications:
- Water disinfection and purification
- Industrial dye and organic pollutant degradation
- Solar-driven catalysis and energy conversion
Technology readiness level
The technology has been validated through laboratory-scale photocatalytic studies demonstrating effective degradation of multiple dye molecules under various light sources. Published peer-reviewed research supports the core findings. Ongoing and planned validation efforts include testing the nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions with different surfactants, optimizing solvent systems for homogeneous suspensions, conducting anti-microbial studies against bacteria and fungi, and optimizing nanoparticle and surfactant loading for final product formulation. The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development, with demonstrated proof-of-concept performance and additional optimization underway to advance toward practical deployment.
About International Centre for Clean Water
The International Centre for Clean Water is an applied research and innovation center affiliated with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and located within the IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai. It provides co-located wet labs and advanced analytical facilities, pilot bays for scale-up, and access to municipal and industrial sites for real-world validation, enabling rapid movement from concept to deployment. Corporate partners engage through collaborative R&D models and on-site residency options within the research park, benefiting from close connection to IIT Madras faculty, student talent, and a vibrant startup community. Work is supported by competitive national funding and philanthropic support alongside industry-sponsored programs. Technology transfer, IP services, and new venture formation are facilitated in coordination with IIT Madras’ commercialization offices and the research park’s incubation network.
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