UW Worldwide :: Student Bios

Overview/Requirements

How to Apply

Student Bios

Faculty Bios

Student Research

Student Guide Book

Supporters of UW-SU program

Photo Gallery

Liang Wenke
wincoliang@gmail.com

Education

Material Science and Engineering, Sichuan University

Research summary

At SU: Solid Oxides Fuel Cell electrolyte in strontium doped LaGaO3 (LSGM system)
At UW: “Highly efficient TiO2 system for degradation of organic pollutant under ultraviolet or visible light”. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), also called titanium (IV) oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium. When it is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, the intrinsic electron (e-) - hole (h+) pairs are generated by the radiation energy, which is known as the photocatalytic effect. These electrons and holes can react with adsorbed pollutants on the TiO2 particle surface and result in the degradation of the pollutants. Without suitable electron and hole scavengers in the TiO2 system, the dissociated electrons and holes can only exist a few nanoseconds before they recombine together, which drastically reduces the degradation efficiency.

Therefore the goal of our project is to produce a highly efficient TiO2 system under UV or visible light radiation for the degradation of organic pollutants such as ethynyl estradiol (EE2), a hormone contained in birth control pills. We will attain this objective in following ways: first increasing the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 powders via metal doping, second modifying the band gap of TiO2 so that it is photocatalytically active under visible light by non-metallic doping and finally modifying the surface of the doped TiO2 particles so that they can anchor the organic molecules and enhance the degradation reaction rate. This research is expected to lead to much more efficient system for the degradation of trace and persistent organic pollutants in water supply.

Poster

"Highly efficient TiO2 system for degradation of organic pollutant under UV or visible light"
The 9th UW Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mary Grates Hall, May 2006

Highlights

Independent research project in UW instructed by two professors from MSE and CEE department.
Found a part time job in copy center on UW campus
Experienced a lot during the year in UW seattle

top