A new wonder material that can generate hydrogen, produce
clean water and even create energy.
Science fiction? Hardly, and there’s more - It can also
desalinate water, be used as flexible water filtration membranes, help recover
energy from desalination waste brine, be made into flexible solar cells and can
also double the lifespan of lithium ion batteries. With its superior
bacteria-killing capabilities, it can also be used to develop a new type of
antibacterial bandage.
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), led by
Associate Professor Darren Sun have succeeded in developing a single,
revolutionary nanomaterial that can do all the above and at very low cost
compared to existing technology.
This breakthrough which has taken Prof Sun five years to
develop is dubbed the Multi-use Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). It is formed by
turning titanium dioxide crystals into patented nanofibres, which can then be
easily fabricated into patented flexible filter membranes which include a
combination of carbon, copper, zinc or tin, depending on the specific end
product needed.