Water Remediation and Hydrogen Production with Cobalt-Doped TiO2 Photoanodes

Authors

• Moises Osorio, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical CollegeFollow
• Liz Diaz, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical CollegeFollow
• Caleb Osei-Appau, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical CollegeFollow
• Fanny Duquet, Chalmers University of TechnologyFollow
• Anne Lobitz, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
• Chahinez Arroumia, University of Montpellier, France
• Stéphanie Roualdès, University of Montpellier, FranceFollow
• Samuel Bayo, University of Montpellier, France
• Francois Zaviska, University of Montpellier, France
• Samuel Snow, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical CollegeFollow

Document Type

Professional Conference

Semester of Graduation

Spring 2026

Abstract

Finding clean energy and water sources are some of the most important challenges in the engineering field. The use of TiO2 photoanodes is a promising method for hydrogen production and water treatment. Synthetizing TiO2 using polymeric biosurfactants and/or doping with Cobalt Oxide may allow optimization for both hydrogen production and water treatment. Photocatalytic experiments were performed using a UVA lamp with emissions centered at 395 nm, across different modes of application, such as powder and thin film. Three polymeric biosurfactants were tested, including GBACoco (GC), GBAC18:1 (GB) and BIO868 (BIO), with a range of molar ratios from 0 to 0.5 of Co-doping. The photodegradation rate was measured with different organic pollutants (furfuryl alcohol, acetaminophen, 4-chlorophenol, and acid orange-7) and MS2 bacteriophage as an enteric virus surrogate. A photo-electrochemical cell was used to performed experiment for hydrogen production using thin film materials with synthesized TiO2/Co3O4. Photocatalytic efficiency was measured across a series of dopant concentrations and was compared with H2 production to optimize both processes. TiO2 with 0 and 0.05 molar ratio of Cobalt, showed to have a better performance in the photodegradation of different pollutants no matter the from or biosurfactant or of the TiO2/Co3O4 material. Although there is a contribution for H2 production, Co does not improve significantly the photodegradation rate.

Recommended Citation

Osorio, M., Diaz, L., Osei-Appau, C., Duquet, F., Lobitz, A., Arroumia, C., Roualdès, S., Bayo, S., Zaviska, F., & Snow, S. (2026). Water Remediation and Hydrogen Production with Cobalt-Doped TiO2 Photoanodes. Retrieved from https://repository.lsu.edu/discover_dur/18

Awardee Name

Moises Osorio

Academic Major

Environmental Engineering

Project Mentor

Samuel Snow