Fig. 1: Filtering and sterilization principles. | npj Clean Water

Fig. 1: Filtering and sterilization principles.

From: Solar water purification with photocatalytic nanocomposite filter based on TiO2 nanowires and carbon nanotubes

Fig. 1

a A representative selection of microorganisms, which could contaminate the drinking water. They are trapped at the surface of the TiO2NWs/CNTs composite - based filter. The sketches of the pathogens are shown on the same scale as the filter material, except for the Hepatitis A virus, the diameter of which is of 24 nm. b The principle of ROS generation at the surface of TiO2NWs upon UV illumination. Since the lifetime of ROS (OH., H2O2 and O2.−) is short, the volume of action is also indicated. Incorporation of CNTs into the TiO2NWs/CNTs nano-construct efficiently separates electron-holes pairs photo-generated within TiO2NWs, thus reducing their recombination rate and consequently increasing the efficiency of photocatalysis. (The scalebar in a) is 1 μm).

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