A monolithic metal-organic framework (MOF) composite body is disclosed, comprising: MOF crystallites adhered to each other via a binder comprising MOF; and at least 0.15 vol % nanoparticles encapsulated in the MOF body. The nanoparticles have an average particle size corresponding to an average particle diameter in the range 3-200 nm. The nanoparticles may have photocatalytic activity. The MOF composite body is of use for treating water containing an organic dye, the photocatalytic reaction supported by the photocatalytic nanoparticles being a degradation reaction of the organic dye.

According to one inventive concept, a method for forming an aerogel includes forming a SiO.sub.2 gel, forming a mixture of the SiO.sub.2 gel and a TiCl.sub.4-derived precursor sol, wherein the TiCl.sub.4 sol is comprised of TiCl.sub.4 and a solvent, forming a SiO.sub.2/TiO.sub.2 wet gel, drying the SiO.sub.2/TiO.sub.2 wet gel, and heating the dried SiO.sub.2/TiO.sub.2 gel.

Disclosed is a method for producing a photocatalyst for air cleaning. The present production method comprises the steps of: preparing titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2); attaching platinum to a surface of the titanium dioxide; and attaching fluoro to the platinum-attached surface of the titanium dioxide to obtain surface-modified titanium dioxide.

Methods of forming non-metal doped metal oxide nanoparticles using a flame spray pyrolysis process are described. The non-metal doped metal oxide nanoparticles exhibit high photocatalytic activity. Specific non-metal doped metal oxides nanoparticles which can be formed by the described processes include nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide and sulfur-doped titanium dioxide.

A self-cleaning film system configured for reducing a visibility of a contaminant includes a substrate and a film. The film includes a monolayer defining a plurality of cavities and formed from a first material having a first surface energy, and a plurality of patches disposed within the plurality of cavities. Each of the patches is formed from a photocatalytic material having a second surface energy that is higher than the first. The film has a touchpoint area having a first use frequency, and a second area having a second use frequency that is less than the first. The patches are present in the touchpoint area in a first concentration and are configured to direct the contaminant towards the second area. The patches are present in the second area in a second concentration that is higher than the first and are configured to reduce the visibility of the contaminant.

The present invention is intended to provide a radical generating catalyst that can generate (produce) radicals under mild conditions. In order to achieve the above object, the first radical generating catalyst of the present invention includes: at least one selected from the group consisting of amino acids, peptides, phospholipids, and salts thereof. The second or third radical generating catalyst of the present invention includes an ammonium salt represented by the following chemical formula (XI) (excluding peroxodisulfate) and having a Lewis acidity of 0.4 eV or more.

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A photocatalyst according to the present invention has a structure in which the titanium dioxide doped with the transition metals is supported on the support such that a band gap thereof is low and a specific surface area thereof is high, thereby exhibiting an excellent photocatalytic activity even in a visible light region and providing an excellent effect of adsorbing an organic compound and removing the same even under a condition in which light is not emitted.

A titanium oxide particle includes a metal having a hydrocarbon group, which is bonded to a surface of the titanium oxide particle through an oxygen atom, and absorbs light having a wavelength of 450 nm and light having a wavelength of 750 nm, wherein an element ratio C/Ti between carbon C and titanium Ti in a surface of the titanium oxide particle is from 0.3 to 1.2, and a reduced amount of C/Ti on the surface of the titanium oxide particle before and after irradiation with an ultraviolet ray having a wavelength of 352 nm and at an irradiation intensity of 1.3 mW/cm.sup.2 for 20 hours is from 0.1 to 0.9.

A metatitanic acid particle includes a metal having a hydrocarbon group, which is bonded to a surface of the metatitanic acid particle through an oxygen atom, and absorbs light having a wavelength of 450 nm and light having a wavelength of 750 nm, wherein an element ratio C/Ti between carbon C and titanium Ti in a surface of the metatitanic acid particle is from 0.3 to 1.2, and a reduced amount of C/Ti on the surface of the metatitanic acid particle before and after irradiation with an ultraviolet ray having a wavelength of 352 nm and at an irradiation intensity of 1.3 mW/cm.sup.2 for 20 hours is from 0.1 to 0.9.

A microemulsion technique of synthesizing a multiphasic titanium dioxide photocatalyst is provided, as well as a method of doping the photocatalyst with platinum. The physical properties of different multiphasic titanium dioxide photocatalysts are described. The multiphasic titanium dioxide photocatalyst is used for the reduction of carbon dioxide into methanol, and a method for reusing the photocatalyst is discussed.