Are you still using organic dyes? Colorimetric formaldehyde analysis for true photocatalytic-activity evaluation

We report easily available and highly reliable colorimetric formaldehyde analysis using only a spectrophotometer/colorimeter, which enables the evaluation of the true photocatalytic activity induced by photoabsorption of a photocatalyst, compared with gas-chromatographic analyses of gaseous products, even though the reliability of colorimetric organic-dye analysis is much worse under visible-light irradiation.

Automated summary

We present a simplified and reliable colorimetric formaldehyde analysis method using only a spectrophotometer/colorimeter. This method allows for the evaluation of true photocatalytic activity induced by photoabsorption of a photocatalyst, compared to gas-chromatographic analyses of gaseous products, even though the reliability of colorimetric organic-dye analysis is compromised under visible-light irradiation.