Title : Photocatalysis: A promising technology
Abstract:
The whole world is facing two major problems. These are water & air pollutions and scarcity of energy resources. Both these problems can be resolved to a greater extent by using an emerging material, a photocatalyst. The problem of water pollution can be solved by photocatalytic material as an oxidant while energy crisis can be solved using it as a reductant. This material has a beauty that it can act as an oxidant as well as a reductant using electron-hole pair generated by its exposure to light. Majority of organic pollutants can be oxidised to small harmless or non-toxic products, while carbon dioxide in the air can be reduced to some synthetic fuels like formic acid, formaldehyde, methanol and methane. The photocatalytic activity of material can be enhanced by doping, composite formation, sensitization, use of co-catalyst, Z-scheme, etc.
Biography:
Prof. Suresh C. Ameta obtained his Masters Degree from University of Udaipur and was awarded Gold Medal-1970. He obtained Ph.D. degree from Vikram University in 1980. He has served as Professor & Head, Department of Chemistry, North Gujarat University Patan (1994) and M. L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur (2002-2005) & Head, Department of Polymer Science (2005-2008). He also served as Dean, P.G. Studies for a period of four years (2004-2008) in M. L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur and Dean, Faculty of Science, PAHER University. Now, he is serving as, Professor of Eminence (Distinguished Professor), Faculty of Science, PAHER University, Udaipur. Prof. Ameta has an experience of around 50 years of Teaching and Research. He has successfully guided 102 students for Ph. D. Prof. Ameta has occupied the prestigious position of President, Indian Chemical Society, Kolkata (2000-2001) and is now lifelong Advisor. He was awarded a number of prizes during his career like National prize twice for writing Chemistry books in Hindi, Prof. M. N. Desai Award, Prof. W. U. Malik Award, Scientist of the Year Award, National Teacher Award, Prof. G. V. Bakore Award and above all, the Life Time Achievement Awards by Indian Chemical Society (2011), Kolkata Indian Council of Chemists, Agra (2015) and Association of Chemistry Teachers, Mumbai (2018). Dr. Ameta has more than 400 research papers and 36 books to his credit. He has contributed Chapters in Books published by Trans-Tech, Switzerland, Nova Science, Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, Springer, and Apple Academic Press, USA. He has twelve books to his credit; including Green Chemistry, Microwave Assisted Organic Synthesis and Solar Energy Conversion & Storage, Group Theory, Photocatalysis, Solar Energy Conversion & Storage, Advanced Oxidation Processes for Waste Water Treatment and Sonochemistry all from International Publishers, USA. Indian Chemical Society, Kolkata has published a Special issue of the Journal of Indian Chemical Society on his Sixtieth Birthday in 2008 and also instituted a National Prize in his honor as Prof. Suresh C. Ameta Award to be given to a Senior Scientist of the country from 2003 onwards.
