PHOTOCATALYST AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

To improve the activity of a photocatalyst.SOLUTION: A photocatalyst 20 comprises: a porous silica 10 as a carrier in which pores 11 are formed, the pore having a diameter of a mold for a quantum dot having a diameter at which a quantum size effect occurs; and a catalyst material having titanium oxide 12a (first portion) made of a quantum dot inserted into the pore 11, and titanium oxide 12b (second portion) made of nanoparticles that come into contact with the titanium oxide 12a and oozes out of the pore 11. Such a photocatalyst 20 can be manufactured, for example, by a photocatalyst manufacturing method comprising: placing, in a container, a porous silica 10 in which pores are formed, the pore having a diameter of a mold for a quantum dot having a diameter at which a quantum size effect occurs; injecting a precursor of the photocatalytic material into the container; and drying the inside of the container with the precursor injected therein under a reduced pressure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1 【課題】光触媒の活性向上を図る。【解決手段】光触媒２０は、量子サイズ効果が生じる径の量子ドットの鋳型となる径の細孔１１が形成された担体である多孔質シリカ１０と、細孔１１に挿入された量子ドットからなる酸化チタン１２ａ（第１部分）と、この酸化チタン１２ａと接触し、かつ、細孔１１の外部にはみ出たナノ粒子からなる酸化チタン１２ｂ（第２部分）とを有する触媒材料とを含む。このような光触媒２０は、例えば、量子サイズ効果が生じる径の量子ドットの鋳型となる径を有する細孔が形成された多孔質シリカ１０を容器に入れる工程と、容器に光触媒材料の前駆体を注入する工程と、前駆体が注入された容器の内部を減圧乾燥する工程とを備える光触媒の製造方法によって製造することができる。【選択図】図１