Photocatalytic process

• US 20060090996A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings Incorporated (Nano Magic, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nano-Proprietary, Inc. (Nano Magic, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yaniv, Zvi, Fink, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,300,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/157.15
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/40 Mixed oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/802 Photocatalytic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/10 Photocatalysts

Abstract

A photocatalytic cleaner for air or water includes a photocatalytic material coating a substrate. An anode, positioned a predetermined distance from the substrate, includes a phosphor that emits ultraviolet light in response to bombardment by electrons from a field emission cathode emitting electrons in response to an electric field. The field emission cathode may be a carbon based field emitter material including incorporating carbon nanotubes.

Claims

1. A photocatalytic cleaner for air or water, comprising:

a photocatalytic material coating a substrate;

an anode, positioned a predetermined distance from the substrate, comprising a phosphor that emits ultraviolet light in response to bombardment by electrons; and

a field emission cathode, positioned a predetermined distance from the anode, operable for emitting electrons in response to an electric field.

2. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 1, wherein the field emission cathode further comprises a carbon based field emitter material to emit the electrons.

3. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 2, wherein the carbon based field emitter material comprises carbon nanotubes.

4. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 3, wherein the field emission cathode and anode are positioned relative to each other in a diode lamp configuration.

5. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 3, wherein the field emission cathode and anode are positioned relative to each other in a triode lamp configuration.

6. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 4, wherein the diode lamp configuration results in a rectangular-shaped lamp.

7. The photocatalytic cleaner as recited in claim 4, wherein the diode lamp configuration results in a cylindrically shaped lamp.

8. A photocatalytic apparatus comprising:

a photocatalytic material;

an anode, positioned a predetermined distance from the photocatalytic material, comprising a phosphor; and

a field emission cathode, positioned a predetermined distance from the anode, operable for emitting electrons in response to an electric field towards the phosphor.

9. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the field emission cathode further comprises a carbon based field emitter material to emit the electrons.

10. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the carbon based field emitter material comprises carbon nanotubes.

11. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the field emission cathode and anode are positioned relative to each other in a diode lamp configuration.

12. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the field emission cathode and anode are positioned relative to each other in a triode lamp configuration.

13. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the triode lamp configuration results in a rectangular-shaped lamp.

14. The photocatalytic apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the triode lamp configuration results in a cylindrically shaped lamp.

15. A method for cleaning a fluid comprising the steps of:

activating a field emitter with an electric field so that the field emitter emits electrons towards a phosphor;

the phosphor emitting ultraviolet light in response to bombardment by the electrons emitted by the field emitter;

a photocatalytic material activated by bombardment by the ultraviolet light emitted by the phosphor; and

passing the fluid in contact with the photocatalytic material.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the field emitter comprises a carbon based field emitter.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the carbon based field emitter comprises carbon nanotubes.