研究課題

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Background

This study explores the photocatalytic degradation of formaldehyde using nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-doped GQDs), a cutting-edge nanomaterial, under simulated indoor lighting. The research aligns with ASHRAE Standard 145.1, aiming to enhance indoor air quality by targeting formaldehyde, a common pollutant, through an efficient removal process.

Methods

The breakthrough capacity test system (BTCTS) was employed to evaluate N-doped GQDs’ effectiveness in decomposing formaldehyde. Five concentrations (0.64–2.4 ppm), exceeding Taiwan’s EPA standard of 0.08 ppm, were tested under LED visible light. Four typical indoor spectral ranges, including blue light, were used to assess the influence of light spectrum on degradation efficiency. The reaction kinetics were analyzed to determine the photocatalytic process.

Significant Findings

N-doped GQDs demonstrated remarkable formaldehyde removal across all light conditions, with blue light showing the highest efficiency due to its greater energy. The degradation followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting an effective reaction pathway. These results underscore N-doped GQDs’ potential as photocatalysts for air purification. Incorporating them into building materials could significantly enhance indoor air quality, promoting occupant health and well-being. 

Anti-Insulation effect due to excessive heat retention, preventing indoor heat dissipation under specific climatic conditions and ultimately increasing air conditioning energy consumption. A literature review indicates that Taiwan’s climate conditions are prone to this phenomenon. Therefore, this study employs CFD software to simulate the PMV/PPD indices of naturally ventilated houses under two different building envelope conditions: one with high thermal insulation and another meeting Taiwan’s current green building standards. The objective is to verify whether the adverse effect of thermal insulation occurs in highly insulated residential buildings from a thermal comfort perspective. The results indicate that, under different envelope conditions, the use of natural ventilation leads to minimal differences in indoor heat accumulation. Additionally, it is observed that the thermally comfortable temperature range under Taiwan’s climatic conditions is approximately 24–26°C.  

Background

Lighting plays a critical role in regulating circadian rhythms and ensuring visual comfort, particularly for elderly residents in long-term care facilities where health vulnerabilities are pronounced. In Taiwan’s subtropical climate, abundant daylight offers potential for circadian stimulation, yet its variability and the aging population’s unique needs complicate design. This study investigates lighting optimization in a northern Taiwanese care facility, leveraging ALFA simulations and field measurements to align with WELL Building Standard’s Equivalent Melanopic Lux (EML) criteria while addressing elderly preferences for lower color temperatures.

Methods

ALFA validation showed errors below 10% in well-lit conditions, confirming its reliability. In the care facility, 6500 K LEDs met EML thresholds (≥150) across communal and residential spaces but exceeded elderly-preferred color temperatures (≤4000 K). Optimized configurations—four 3000 K tubes in the hall (477 lux, EML 275) and four 4000 K tubes in bedrooms (211 lux, EML 150–275)—balanced circadian and visual needs, leveraging southeast daylight in communal areas while supplementing northwest-facing bedrooms. Seasonal variations highlighted subtropical daylight’s influence on design efficacy.

Significant Findings

Tailored lighting strategies integrating daylight and low-CCT LEDs effectively enhance circadian health and visual comfort for elderly residents in subtropical settings. These findings emphasize the importance of region-specific designs, improving occupant well-being and energy efficiency. They offer practical guidance for sustainable care facility design, advocating for adaptable lighting standards responsive to aging populations and local climates. 

Climate change exacerbates indoor air quality challenges by intensifying global temperature rises and prolonging summer periods, elevating atmospheric ozone, dust levels, and formaldehyde emissions from furniture in buildings. Formaldehyde, a pervasive indoor pollutant, poses significant health risks, worsened by these conditions. This study explores photocatalytic degradation of formaldehyde using nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-doped GQDs), a novel nanomaterial, under simulated indoor lighting, aligning with ASHRAE Standard 145.1 to enhance air purification amid climate-driven pollution increases.

The breakthrough capacity test system (BTCTS) evaluated N-doped GQDs’ efficacy in decomposing formaldehyde at five concentrations (0.64–2.4 ppm), exceeding Taiwan’s EPA standard of 0.08 ppm, under LED visible light. Four typical indoor spectral ranges, including blue light, assessed spectral impacts on degradation. N-doped GQDs exhibited exceptional formaldehyde removal across all conditions, with blue light achieving peak efficiency due to its higher energy. Reaction kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, indicating an efficient photocatalytic pathway.

These findings highlight N-doped GQDs’ potential as a robust photocatalyst for mitigating formaldehyde pollution, intensified by climate change-induced temperature rises. Integrating N-doped GQDs into building materials could significantly improve indoor air quality, counteracting the escalating emissions from prolonged heat and offering a sustainable solution to protect occupant health and well-being in a warming world.