Graphene composite degrades atmospheric pollutant

Researchers from the Graphene Flagship in Cambridge, working in collaboration with Italian and Israeli scientists, report that a composite composed of graphene and titania (titanium dioxide) could be a highly effective way of reducing the amount of NOx reaching the atmosphere from vehicle exhausts. The composite is a photocatalyst – that is, it becomes active when exposed to sunlight.

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NOx pollution is an increasingly serious problem, particularly in cities and in developing countries. The most troublesome source of the gases, which are highly hazardous to human health, is vehicle exhausts, and the congested cities of the developing world experience particularly high levels of pollution. The research was coordinated by a team from Italcementi, an Italian subsidiary of the Heidelbergcement Group; the idea being that the photocatalyst could be applied to the surface of cement used to construct buildings and infrastructure, to clean the air as the sun strikes the surface.