Methods for embedding photocatalytic titanium dioxide in asphalt surfaces to reduce pollutants via photocatalytic reactions are provided herein. One method includes applying an amount of an asphalt surface treatment compound to an upper surface of the asphalt surface, the asphalt surface treatment compound including a mixture of a liquid carrier compound with a titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) photocatalyst.

The invention relates to a porous monolith comprising between 20 wt.-% and 70 wt.-% TiO 2 relative to the total weight of the monolith, and between 30 wt.-% and 80 wt.-% a refractory oxide, selected from silica, alumina or silica-alumina, relative to the total weight of the monolith, characterized in that said porous monolith has a bulk density of less than 0.19 g/mL.

The invention relates to a porous monolith comprising between 20 wt.-% and 70 wt.-% Ti0 2 relative to the total weight of the monolith, and between 30 wt.-% and 80 wt.-% a refractory oxide, selected from silica, alumina or silica-alumina, relative to the total weight of the monolith, characterized in that said porous monolith has a bulk density of less than 0.19 g/mL.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic that comprises: making available amorphous Ti; making available a biomimetic material or a biomaterial based on calcium phosphate; functionalizing said biomimetic material or said biomaterial based on calcium phosphate, with said amorphous Ti, obtaining a functionalized and oriented composite; adding said functionalized composite to a ceramic mixture, and/or applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product, where ceramic semi-finished product means the ceramic material before baking; applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product; baking at a temperature between 600 and 1400 C., preferably between 900 and 1300 C., for a time that varies from 20 to 500 minutes, obtaining an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic.

The present invention further relates to a photocatalytic ceramic material that comprises a biomimetic material having a nanostructured hierarchical structure with macro and micro cavities, within which TiO.sub.2 is included in the crystalline form of rutile, and tiles, sanitary ware and tableware comprising same.

The present disclosure relates to a visible light-catalyzed translucent concrete, and a preparation method and use thereof. The preparation method includes: extracting an iron oxide from a copper slag, mixing the iron oxide with TiO.sub.2 to obtain a photocatalyst, and then mixing the photocatalyst with an additive to obtain a photocatalytic slurry; preparing a concrete slurry using the copper slag after iron extraction as an aggregate; and pouring the photocatalytic slurry, the concrete slurry, and the photocatalytic slurry in sequence into a mold pre-laid with an optical fiber, to obtain the visible light-catalyzed translucent concrete. In the visible light-catalyzed translucent concrete, iron in the copper slag is used as a part of raw materials of the photocatalyst, and the copper slag after iron extraction is used as an aggregate to replace natural sand and gravel. This solves environmental pollutions caused by the copper slag and realizes resource utilization.

Disclosed embodiments concern a composition comprising a diatom frustule and two or more photocatalytic nanoparticles dispersed on the surface of the frustule. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method for making the composition. The nanoparticles are dispersed such that they are separate and not in physical contact with each other. An average distance between the nanoparticles may be from greater than 0 nm to 100 nm. The nanoparticles may comprise a dopant material. Paint compositions comprising the diatom frustule compositions are also contemplated. The diatom frustule composition may be useful for removing and/or degrading volatile organic compounds, such as those present in the atmosphere.

A titania porous body is entirely formed of titania. The titania porous body includes a titania framework, first pores, and second pores. The titania framework forms a three-dimensional network structure. The first pores are opening portions of the three-dimensional structure. The second pores are disposed in a surface of the titania framework. Such a titania porous body is also referred to as a titania monolith.

A porous material having a hierarchical pore structure, wherein a size and shape of interconnection parts of at least one level pore cavities is consistent with a size and shape of interconnection parts between the level pore cavities and the previous level pore cavities thereof, and an average value of equivalent diameters of the interconnection parts is larger than 45% of that of a diameter of small pore cavities of two adjacent pore cavities of the interconnection parts. The method for preparing the porous material includes: mixing a raw material powder with a pore-forming agent used for preparing the smallest level pores to formulate a slurry; uniformly filling the slurry into a polymeric material frame, and drying and crushing to form mixed grains; then uniformly mixing the mixed grains with the pore-forming agent used for preparing the upper-level pore cavities, forming a compact green body and sintering.

Disclosed herein are phase change materials microencapsulated by a microcapsule having two shells, the first shell (directly encapsulating the phase change material) being an organic polymeric material and the second shell (an outer shell) being made from a doped TiO.sub.2 material. The microcapsules disclosed herein may be particularly useful for improving the energy efficiency of indoor environments, as well as providing compositions that they are applied to (e.g. paints) with self-cleaning properties.

Methods for embedding photocatalytic titanium dioxide in asphalt surfaces to reduce pollutants via photocatalytic reactions include applying an amount of an asphalt surface treatment compound to an upper surface of the asphalt surface, the asphalt surface treatment compound including a mixture of a liquid carrier compound with a titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) photocatalyst.