Apparatus and method for urea photo-oxidation

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UREA PHOTO-OXIDATION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/719549, filed August 17, 2018.

BACKGROUND

More than 2 million end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients worldwide receive dialysis to sustain life, with this number likely to represent less than 10% of the actual need. In the United States alone, over 460,000 people are on kidney dialysis, over 89,000 of whom die annually with a 5-year survival rate being only 35%. The intermittent character of hemodialysis causes large fluctuations in blood metabolite concentrations. Observations show that long-term survival in dialysis is improved for the patients treated by extended hemodialysis (i.e., more frequent or with longer hours of treatment) when compared to conventional hemodialysis.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional dialysis system 10. In operation, a patient 5 is connected to the dialysis system 10 such that patient's blood flows through a tubing 14 into a dialysis system 10. The tubing 14 is threaded through a blood pump 18. The pumping action of the blood pump 18 pushes patient's blood through the dialysis system 10 and back into patient's body. The pump 18 is typically a non-contact pump.

Dialysate 12 is a fluid that helps remove the unwanted waste products (e.g., urea) from patient's blood. During the dialysis, dialysate 12 and patient's blood flow through the dialysis system 10, but the two flows do not physically mix. Instead, fresh dialysate 12 from the machine is separated by a membrane from the blood flow. Impurities from patient's blood stream are filtered out through the membrane into dialysate 12. For example, typically 12-24 g of urea needs to be removed daily in a normal adult, but with a reduced protein diet 15g day is a sufficient goal. Other impurities are also filtered out of the blood stream into the dialysate. Dialysate containing unwanted waste products and excess electrolytes leave the dialyzer for disposal.

Since hemodialysis works on the principle of diffusion into a dialysate having low target concentration, inherently large volumes of fluid are required. The conventional hemodialysis achieves the removal of excessive metabolic waste from the body by running about 120 liters of dialysate per session, which typically requires 3-4 hours of treatment. The dialysis may be required three times a week. Patients are subjected to significant life disruptions, including having to be immobilized for hours and having to arrange transportation to dialysis centers, which impact their quality of life. Accordingly, systems and method for improved dialysis, including improved urea removal, are required.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter.

Briefly, the inventive technology is directed to urea removal from a dialysate. The inventive technology may be used for dialysis, including kidney dialysis, hemodialysis, hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, removal of impurities, etc.

In some embodiments, a photo-chemical oxidation (also referred to as dialysisfluid regeneration or urea treatment) removes urea from dialysate. A dialysis system fluid regeneration system may include: a nanostructured anode; a source of light configured to illuminate the anode; and a cathode that is oxygen permeable. The nanostructures may be TiO2 nanowires that are hydrothermally grown. The source of light may be provided by an array of LEDs. The oxygen permeable or air permeable cathode may be a platinumcoated (Pt-coated) cloth or paper.

In some embodiments, the system may be sized down enough to become wearable and/or portable. Wearable dialysis devices not only achieve continuous dialysis, but also help reduce clinic related treatment costs and improve quality of life through enhanced mobility.

In one embodiment, a dialysis fluid regeneration system includes: a nanostructured anode; a source of light configured to illuminate the anode; and a cathode that is oxygen permeable.

In one aspect, the dialysis fluid is a dialysate. In another aspect, the system is a kidney dialysis system. In one aspect, the system is a hemofiltration system. In one aspect, the system is a hemodialysis system. In one aspect, the system is a hemodiafiltration system.

In one aspect, the system also includes a source of electrical voltage operationally coupled to the anode and the cathode. In another aspect, the source of electrical voltage is portable.

In one aspect, the dialysis fluid regeneration system is portable. In another aspect, the dialysis fluid regeneration system is wearable. In another aspect, the dialysis fluid regeneration system is stationary.

In one aspect, the anode, the source of light, and the cathode that is oxygen permeable are parts of a first dialysis-fluid regeneration cell, and the system includes a plurality of dialysis-fluid regeneration cells.

In one aspect, the cathode is an air-breathable cathode. In another aspect, the cathode is a conductive cloth-based cathode. In one aspect, the cloth is a platinum-coated (Pt-coated) cloth. In one aspect, the cathode is a conductive paper-based cathode.

In one aspect, the cathode is configured to electrochemically split water. In another aspect, the nanomaterial of the anode is configured to generate photo-electrons or holes when exposed to light.

In one aspect, the source of light comprises an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In one aspect, the LEDs are arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) array. In another aspect, the LEDs generate an irradiance of less than 4 mW/cm2 at a surface of the anode. In one aspect, the LEDs emit light at 365 nm wavelength.

In one aspect, the source of light comprises a source of UV. In another aspect, the source of light comprises a source of visible light. In one aspect, an incident photon to photoelectron efficiency is about 51%.

In one aspect, the nanostructured anode comprises TiO2 nanowires. In another aspect, the individual nanowires have a thickness of about 500 nm. In one aspect, the TiO2 nanowires are prepared hydrothermally. In one aspect, the nanowires are disposed on a substrate, and the individual nanowires are individually electrically coupled to a substrate that carries the nanowires.

In one aspect, a dialysate solution has a concentration of urea of 10 mM or less. In another aspect, the system also includes a radical scavenger configured to remove oxidative byproducts, radical byproducts, and chlorine.

In one aspect, the system also includes a membrane configured for passing small molecules through and for blocking large molecules from passing through. In another aspect, the membrane is a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane.

In one embodiment, a dialysis fluid regeneration system includes: a nanostructured substrate configured to generate photo-electrons or holes when exposed to light; a source of light configured to illuminate the substrate; and an oxygen permeable barrier.

In one aspect, the source of light is naturally occurring.

In one embodiment, a method for regenerating a dialysis fluid includes: flowing the dialysis fluid through a system of any of the preceding claims; and illuminating the anode with the source of light as the dialysis fluid passes over the anode, thereby photoelectrochemically eliminating urea in the dialysis fluid.

In one embodiment, a method for regenerating a dialysis fluid includes: flowing the dialysis fluid between an anode and a cathode of a dialysis system, wherein the anode comprises a plurality of nanostructures; illuminating the anode with a source of light; flowing oxygen through the cathode toward the dialysis fluid; and converting urea in the dialysis fluid into CO2, N2 and H2O thereby regenerating the dialysis fluid.

In one aspect, the method also includes recirculating the dialysis fluid within a dialysis system.

In one aspect, the method also includes: coupling a positive voltage to the anode; and coupling a negative voltage to the cathode.

In one aspect, the voltage differential between the positive voltage and the negative voltage is within a range from about 0.6 V to about 0.8 V.

In one aspect, the source of light includes a source of UV light and visible light.

In one aspect, flowing oxygen through the cathode toward the dialysis fluid includes flowing ambient air through the cathode.

In one aspect, the method also includes: flowing the dialysis fluid through a radical scavenger; and removing chlorine from the dialysis fluid in the radical scavenger.

In one embodiment, a method for preparing a dialysis fluid includes: flowing water to be treated between an anode and a cathode of a dialysis fluid regeneration system, wherein the anode comprises a plurality of nanostructures; illuminating the anode with a source of light; flowing oxygen through the cathode toward water to be treated; and oxidizing impurities in the water to be treated, thereby generating the dialysis fluid.

In one aspect, the method also includes recirculating the dialysis fluid within a dialysis system. In one aspect, the method also includes: coupling a positive voltage to the anode; and coupling a negative voltage to the cathode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the inventive technology will become more readily appreciated as the same are understood with reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a dialysis system in accordance with conventional technology;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of a dialysis system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of a dialysis system in operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 4A is an exploded view of a urea treatment unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 4B is a schematic view of a urea treatment unit in operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 5A is an exploded view of a urea treatment unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 5B is an exploded view of a urea treatment unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURES 6 A and 6B are microscope images of nanostructures in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic view of a urea treatment unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 8 is flow diagram of a urea treatment unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic view of a portable urea dialysis system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURES 1 0A-10D are schematic views of portable dialysis systems in accordance with embodiments of the present technology;

FIGURE 11 is a graph of photocurrent in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 12 is a graph of photocurrent as a function of hydrothermal growth time in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 13 is a graph of absorbance as a function of wavelength in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology;

FIGURE 14 is a graph of photocurrent as a function of effective LED current in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology; and

FIGURE 15 is a performance comparison between a Pt-coated and a Pt-black cathode in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology; and

FIGURE 16 is a graph of photocurrent as a function of time in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While several embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a dialysis system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The illustrated system (e.g., a kidney dialysis system, hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration or a hemofiltration system) includes a urea oxidation unit 700 and a toxin selective removal unit 600. In operation, flow of blood 410 that includes urea and other toxins enters the urea oxidation unit 700. The flow of blood 410 is separated from a flow of dialysate fluid (e.g., dialysate) 715 by a membrane 712, which allows mass exchange for select molecules between the flow of blood and the flow of dialysate fluid (referred to as dialysate for simplicity). In some embodiments, a low molecular weight cut-off dialysis membrane allows only small molecules (e.g., less than 100 Da) to pass through. In some embodiments, the membrane may be a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. In some embodiments, the urea oxidation unit 700 includes a photochemical oxidation unit 720 (also referred to as a dialysis-fluid regeneration unit, or a urea treatment unit) that is configured to remove urea, and a radical/trace scavenger 780 that is configured to remove oxidative byproducts, radical byproducts, chlorine, and/or other toxins. The photo-chemical oxidation unit 720 is described in more detail with reference to Figures 4A to 8 below. Terms photo-oxidation, photochemical oxidation, and photo-chemical oxidation are used interchangeably in this specification.

In some embodiments, after urea and/or other small molecule toxins are removed from the blood flow 410, thus partially cleaned blood flow 414 continues to flow toward a protein-bound toxin selective removal unit 600. The blood flow 414 is separated from cellular components by a membrane 612 that is configured for passing large molecular weight proteins and small molecules, commonly referred to as blood plasma. On the permeate side of membrane 612 are selective sorbents for clearance of larger molecular weight and/or protein-bound toxins. This solution 614 flows through a membrane 613 into unit 650 with a mixture of sorbents and selective membranes for the removal of small molecule toxins through flow 610. Nutrients are returned to blood stream 416 as flow 651 as well as desorbed proteins in flow 616 on permeate/plasma side of membrane 612. Some non - exclusive examples of toxins 610 removed by the unit 600 are indoxyl sulfate that was bound to human albumin. Generally, the urea oxidation unit 700 removes small toxic molecules, while the toxin selective removal unit 600 removes large toxic molecules or those bound to proteins such as albumin. However, in different embodiments different arrangements of the toxin removal units are also possible. The blood and/or blood plasma flow 616 that exits from the toxin selective removal unit 600 continues to flow toward further elements/steps of the dialysis process or returns to the patient.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a dialysis system in operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The illustrated analysis system operates as a regeneration system for dialysate 715. In operation, blood flow 410, 805 flows between the vascular system of the patient, and the urea oxidation unit 700 and the toxin selective removal unit 600 (or other toxin removal units) generally requiring a pump (e.g., a pump 810). In some embodiments, the flow of dialysate 715 recirculates within the units 600, 700, therefore eliminating or at least limiting a need for adding fresh dialysate to the process. As a result, consumption of the dialysate is reduced with the embodiments of the inventive technology in comparison with the conventional dialysis.

The dialysate 715 may have a concentration of urea of 10 mM or less. In some embodiments, a controller 794 may control operation of pumps 810 and 716 to regulate the flow of blood input 410 and the dialysate 715.

Figure 4A is an exploded view of a urea treatment unit 20 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. Illustrated urea treatment unit 20 is a photo-electric urea treatment unit that removes urea by an electrochemical reaction. The system 20 includes two electrodes 24, 26 that are separated by a dielectric spacer 27 (e.g., rubber, silicon, or plastic spacer). In operation, dialysate that contains urea is held between the two electrodes 24, 26, and is subjected to photo-illumination that promotes photo-oxidation of urea into CO2, H2O and N2.

The required source of light may be provided by an ultraviolet (UV) lamp 22. The reaction also requires oxygen for the electrochemical reaction. Providing required oxygen is described with reference to Figure 4B below.

Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of a urea treatment unit in operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. In the illustrated embodiment, air flows into tubing 28 and further to the dialysate that contains urea inside the photo-electric urea treatment unit 20. Arrows 29 indicate the incoming flow of air that produces bubbles 31 in the dialysate. However, the quantum efficiency for incident photons from the UV lamp 22 to electrochemical reaction may be relatively low, sometimes less than 1%. As a result, the urea treatment unit 20 may still be impractically large if the target of about 15 to 20 g of urea removal is to be achieved in a portable device. Improved provisioning of oxygen is described with respect to Figure 5A below.

Figure 5A is an exploded view of a urea treatment unit 720 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The electrochemical reaction that takes place in the urea treatment unit 720 may be described as:

Anode: CO(NH2)2 + 6 OH־ —> CO2 + N2 + 5 H2O + 6e־

Cathode: O2 + 2 H2O + 4 e4 <— ־ OH־

Net: CO(NH2)2 + 3/2 O2 —> CO2 + N2 +2 H2O (Eq. 1)

In some embodiments, dialysate 715 flows through a spacer 732 from an inlet 734 to an outlet 736. Dialysate 715 carries urea that is to be electrochemically decomposed into CO2 and N2. The spacer 732 may be sandwiched between an anode 722 and a cathode 742, each individually connected to a source of voltage 792 (e.g., a source of DC voltage). In some embodiments the source of voltage 792 provides voltage differential within a range from about 0.6 V to about 0.8 V. In some embodiment of spacer 732, the entire dialysate flow is directed to flow over TiO2 layer.

In some embodiments, the anode 722 is fitted with nanostructures (e.g., TiO2 nanowires). In operation, the anode 722 is illuminated by a source of light that emits light (e.g., UV light) for the electrochemical reaction shown in equation 1. At the anode, photoexcited TiO2 nanostructures provide holes for the oxidation of solution species on the surface, while electrons are collected on underlying conducting oxide (e.g., fluorine doped thin oxide or FTO), and then transported to the cathode electrode to split water into OH-. The photo-excitation may be provided by a source of light 750 or by natural light.

In some embodiments, the cathode 742 may be gas permeable (e.g., air permeable or oxygen permeable). In operation, flow of gas 760 that includes oxygen can pass through the cathode 742 toward the dialysate that includes urea.

In some embodiments, the urea treatment unit 720 may be used for preparing a dialysis fluid. For example, water to be treated may be passed between the anode 722 and the cathode 742 to oxidize impurities in the water to be treated, thereby generating the dialysis fluid. Some embodiments of the urea treatment unit 720 are further described with reference to Figures 5B - 6B below.

Figure 5B is an exploded view of a urea treatment unit 720 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. In some embodiments, the urea treatment unit 720 includes one or more nanostructured anodes 722 having a substrate 721 that carries nanostructures 723. The nanostructured anode 722 may be held in a substrate holder 724.

The light required for the photo-chemical decomposition of the urea may be provided by a light array 752 that includes one or more sources of light (e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, discharge lamps, etc.). The sources of light may be arranged in a 2dimensional (2D) array. In some embodiments, the LEDs emit light at 365 nm wavelength. In some embodiments, the LEDs emit light at an ultraviolet (UV) or visible light wavelength. In some embodiments, the LEDs generate light with the intensity of less than 4 mW/cm2 at the surface of the anode (e.g., at the surface of the substrate 721). In other embodiments, other, higher light intensities may be used, for example light with the intensity of more than mW/cm2 at the surface of the anode. In some embodiments, quantum efficiency of incident photons (incident photo-electric efficiency) is about 51%. In some embodiments, the nanostructured anode 722 may operate based on the incoming natural light in conjunction with or without dedicated light array 752.

As explained with reference to Figure 5A, the cathode may be an air permeable cathode 742 that blocks liquids (e.g., water), but passes gases (e.g., air or oxygen) through. In some embodiments, the cathode 742 is made of conductive cloth. For example the conductive cloth may be a platinum-coated (Pt-coated) cloth or carbon cloth. In some embodiments, the cathode 742 may be a conductive paper-based cathode. The air permeable (air breathable) cathode 742 may be mechanically held in place by spacers 744 and 746 having supporting elements for the cathode 742, for example the spacers having mesh supporting elements 745, 747 (or other gas-permeable structural elements).

With at least some embodiments of the inventive technology, significant performance improvements were observed when compared to the performance of the conventional technology. For example, matching a daily urea production to the 6eoxidation process for 15 gram (0.25 moles) a day target requires electrical current of1.7A over a 24 hour period. With a target 1 mA/cm2 photocurrent density on the TiO2 nanostructured anode, the required total device area becomes about 1700 cm2, or 1.82 ft2. With such total device area it becomes feasible to deploy a backpack sized device that oxidizes about 15 g of urea per day. The backpack sized device would require about twelve mAh batteries for 8 hour operation without recharging and proportionally less batteries for shorter operations.

Furthermore, the high conversion efficiency of urea decomposition at low concentrations shows a high selectivity of TiO2 to oxidize urea vs. generating oxochlorospecies that are generally undesirable. Additionally, photocurrent density is more than one order of magnitude higher than that achieved by the prior art without nanostructures or LEDs.

Sample calculation of device performance

For the illustrated embodiment, the operating current of the UV LED was kept at 50 mA. With 6.7% of photons being geometrically incident on the TiO2 sample, we can obtain the incident LED current to photoelectron current efficiency by η = 1 Photocurrent, 6.7% x ILED where ILED and /photocurrent are the current used to drive the LED and the resultant photocurrent, respectively. Since the LED quantum efficiency is 40%, the incident photon to photoelectron efficiency η' = -^-. The total amount of photocurrent passing % through the circuit is calculated with Qtota1 = f Iphotocurrentdt . Cumulative photocurrent that was used for urea decomposition can be calculated from urea concentration change, that is Qurea = 6 x 96485 x (Cstart — Cend) x V, where 6 is the number of electrons involved in oxidizing a single urea molecule times Faraday’s constant, Cstart and Cend are urea concentrations measured before and after the photo-oxidation experiment, and V is

0.3ml. Selectivity of the photocurrent towards urea decomposition is η = . Urea

Qtotal removal rate is assumed to be constant during the operation. To calculate the required electrode area and operating current, we may assume 15 g of urea needs to be removed daily.

In contrast with the inventive technology, the prior art technology requires much higher operating current. To calculate the incident photon to photoelectron efficiency for the prior art technology as shown in Table 1 below, the solar AM .15 spectrum from NREL is used, which the light source in the literature was emulating. For the 100 mW/cm2 5 intensity used in the literature, the total photon flux becomes 3.89 x 1017scm, out of which the photons between 280 nm and 380 nm have the flux of 1.16 x 1016scm. Thus the incident photon to photoelectron efficiency is 0.28%. Even considering only the wavelengths below 380 nm, the efficiency remains only 9.3%. Assuming 40% quantum efficiency of the light source, same as the UV LED used in this study, this would require 10 an operating current of 2000 A that is not practical in clinical, home or portable use.

Some comparisons of the performance of the present technology and the conventional technology is shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1: Comparison between the present and conventional technology

<td></td><td> Incident photon to photoelectron efficiency</td><td> Efficiency of photocurrent toward urea decomposition</td><td> Typical Steady state photocurrent (mA/cm²)</td><td> Typical urea removal rate g/(cm²^hr)</td><td> Required electrode area for 15 g urea removal during 24 hrs (cm²)</td>

<td> Present technology</td><td> 51%</td><td> 80%</td><td> 0.8</td><td> 2.66e-4</td><td> 2,360 (2.5 sqft)</td>

<td> Conventional technology</td><td> &lt; 0.1%</td><td> 97%</td><td> 0.011</td><td> 4.03e-6</td><td> 155,000</td>

Figures 6A and 6B are microscope images of the nanostructures 723 at two different scales in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. Generally, to improve performance of the TiO2, there is an inherent trade-off of having a sample that is thick enough to absorb all incoming light, but also thin enough to collect electron current without significant amounts of carrier recombination in the bulk of the substrate. In some embodiments, such optimization is obtained by the highly ordered nanoscale structures with high surface area and efficient electrical conduction to electron collection electrode (e.g., a substrate that is an FTO layer). In operation, relatively high density in the vertical direction of the nanostructures 723 allows for the separation of electrons/hole carriers, therefore reducing the inefficient carrier recombination. In some embodiments, the nanostructures 723 are about 500 nm thick.

Figure 7 is a schematic view of a urea treatment unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The illustrated urea treatment unit 720 includes several cells 720-i (also referred to as urea treatment cells, dialysis-fluid regeneration cells, or photo-chemical oxidation cells). In different embodiments, the cells 720-i may share the same inlet and/or outlet. The flow of the dialysate through the cell may be arranged as a parallel or serial flow, or as a combination of both. In general, stacking the cells 720-i reduces the overall width and height of the system, therefore making the system more compact and portable.

Figure 8 is flow diagram of a urea treatment unit 720 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The urea treatment unit 720 includes multiple cells 720-i. A flow of dialysate enters a cell 720-1, where at least partial decomposition of the urea in the dialysate takes place, and continues towards other cells 720-i. Collectively, the electrochemical reaction in the cells 720-i convert the urea into the CO2 and N2 as explained with reference to Equation 1 above. In general, arranging the cells 720-i may make the system more modular and/or less expensive.

Figure 9 is a schematic view of a portable urea dialysis system 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The illustrated system 100 includes multiple cells 720-i having multiple dialysate inlets and outlets 734, 736. The flow through the cells 720-i may be arranged as shown in Figures 7-9. As a result, size of the urea dialysis system 100 may be reduced to such an extent that the system becomes portable, for example, the system may be fitted within a backpack or other carrier 105.

Figures 10A-10D are schematic views of portable dialysis systems in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. In some embodiments of the inventive technology, the compactness of the dialysis system may enable wearability or portability of the system. Such wearability/portability of the dialysis system promotes mobility and quality of life of the patient.

Figure 10A illustrates a portable dialysis system 100 that is attached to a body of the patient 5. The portable dialysis system 100 is connected to the vascular system of the patient with a tube 110, with other possible embodiments of vascular access locations. Figure 10B illustrates a portable dialysis system 100 that includes the urea treatment unit 720 that can be fitted within the backpack 105. Figure 10C illustrates a portable dialysis system 100 that includes the urea treatment unit 720 that can be fitted within a suitcase 105. Figure 10D illustrates a portable dialysis system 100 that includes the urea treatment unit that can be fitted within a case 105. Other examples of the portable dialysis system 100 are also possible in different embodiments.

Figure 11 is a graph of photocurrent in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The horizontal axis of the graph shows time in seconds, and the vertical axis shows the photocurrent in mA/cm2. Data were obtained by illuminating the TiO2 nanostructures that were manufactured by hydrothermal synthesis (upper curve) and dip coating (lower curve). When acquiring data, the LED is turned on (50 mA) at 5 s into the measurements; 0V is applied to TiO2; and static urea/NaCl solution is used. The TiO2 film that was made by hydrothermal synthesis shows high initial current. This initial current is mass-transport limited and has about 8X higher steady state photocurrent than the TiO2 film that was prepared by dip coating. The effective LED intensity on the TiO2/FTO substrate was 4 mW/cm2.

Figure 12 is a graph of photocurrent as a function of hydrothermal growth time in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The horizontal axis of the graph shows time in seconds, and the vertical axis shows the photocurrent in mA/cm2. The effective LED intensity on TiO2/FTO substrate was 4 mW/cm2. A steady state photocurrent as a function of hydrothermal growth time shows optimal growth time at about 185 min (corresponding to the maximum photocurrent).

Figure 13 is a graph of absorbance as a function of wavelength in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The horizontal axis of the graph shows wavelength of the incoming light in nanometers, and the vertical axis shows the absorbance in atomic units. Ultraviolet light absorbance spectra generally increases with the hydrothermal growth time (the time steps being the same as those shown sequentially in Figure 12 above).

Figure 14 is a graph of photocurrent as a function of effective LED current (light intensity) in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The horizontal axis of the graph shows effective LED current in mA, and the vertical axis shows the photocurrent in mA/cm2. The round symbols correspond to the applied cathode-to-anode voltage potential of 0.8 V, and the diamond symbols correspond to the case with no cathode-to-anode voltage. Thus, the graph shows a steady state photocurrent increase significantly with +0.8V applied bias to the TiO2 anode. The increase is due to separating electron hole pairs in TiO2, pushing holes to reaction surface and drawing electrons into cathode circuit. The effective LED current is the portion of the LED current that is responsible for the photons incident on the substrate being tested (the LED having 40% quantum efficiency). Due to the device geometry, only 6.7% of emitted photons were incident on the TiO2 surface (i.e., on the TiO2 substrate surface).

Figure 15 is a performance comparison between a Pt-coated and a Pt-black cathode in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The horizontal axis of the graph shows time in seconds, and the vertical axis shows the photocurrent in mA/cm2. The LED light was turned on at about 5 s with 0 V applied to anode, and with a static urea solution. The effective LED intensity on TiO2/FTO substrate was 4 mW/cm2.

For the Pt-black electrode, air bubbles (2 mL/min) were introduced at 370 s. This event causes the sudden increase in the photocurrent for the Pt-black cathode. Nevertheless, the

Pt-coated cathode consistently outperformed the Pt-black cathode in terms of the photocurrent.

Figure 16 is a graph of photocurrent as a function of time in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. The effective LED intensity on TiO2/FTO substrate was 4 mW/cm2. The results demonstrate almost continuous operation of a prototype device running for over 100 h in a circulated (0.3 ml/min) solution of 10 mM urea and 0.15 M NaCl.

Many embodiments of the technology described above may take the form of computer- or controller-executable instructions, including routines executed by a programmable computer or controller. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate bthat the technology can be practiced on computer/controller systems other than those shown and described above. The technology can be embodied in a special-purpose computer, controller or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions described above. Accordingly, the terms computer and controller as generally used herein refer to any data processor and can include Internet appliances and hand-held devices (including palm-top computers, wearable computers, cellular or mobile phones, multiprocessor systems, processor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network computers, mini computers and the like). The term about means +/- 5% of the stated value.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the disclosure. Moreover, while various advantages and features associated with certain embodiments have been described above in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages and/or features, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages and/or features to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.