photocatalystn.
/ˌfəʊtə(ʊ)ˈkatəlɪst/, /ˌfəʊtə(ʊ)ˈkatl̩ɪst/, U.S. /ˌfoʊdoʊˈkædl̩əst/ Chemistry.
A substance that acts as a catalyst in a photochemical reaction.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > processes or substances affecting reactions > catalysis > photocatalysis > photocatalyst
photocatalyst1914
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > scientific effects of light > [noun] > study of chemical action of light > photochemical reaction > acceleration of > substance causing
photocatalyst1914
photocatalyser1926
1914 S. E. Sheppard Photo-chem. vii. 293 The kations Fe, Mn, Ce were peculiarly effective photo-catalysts for the reaction.
1945 E. I. Rabinowitch Photosynthesis I. iii. 56 Chlorophyll is a photocatalyst, since no decrease in the concentration of chlorophyll in leaves has been observed after intense photosynthesis.
1971 E. Gurr Synthetic Dyes 108 Crystal violet is one of the dyes used by Binding (1970) as a photo~catalyst.
1995 New Scientist 26 Aug. 19/1 The titanium compound is a photocatalyst, whose presence allows sunlight to decompose organic compounds, such as those caused by splattered insects.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1914