Possibility of photocatalysis in the dark by combining TiO₂ photocatalyst with long afterglow phosphor

Four kinds of photocatatyst including TiO₂ and TiO _2-xN_x powers, TiO₂ and TiO_2-xN _x coated Al₂O₃ powders, TiO₂ film, and a novel light-storing photocatalyst were synthesized and characterized in this paper. TiO₂ and TiN_xO_2-x have photocatalystic activity under irradiation of visible LED lights, suggesting the possibility of combining TiO₂ photocatalyst with long afterglow phosphor to obtain a new light-storing photocatalyst. The novel light-storing photocatalyst can decompose environmental pollutants under light irradiation and has decorative ability in the dark. The most interesting is that the long afterglow phosphor can absorb and store light from the irradiation source and supply light for the TiO₂ photocatalyst when the light source is cut off.