SELF CLEANING PHOTOCATALYSIS

What is photocatalysis?
The principle of photocatalytic reaction was to accelerate the natures cleaning and purifying
process using light as energy. Discovered in 1960s, Dr. Fujishima of Japan found titanium metal,
after irradiated by light, could break water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen gas. By restructuring
titanium dioxide particles in nano-scale, a number of new physical and chemical properties were
discovered. One of these newfound effects was photocatalytic oxidation which accelerated the
formation of hydroxyl radical, one of the strongest oxidizing agents created by nature. Using energy
found in the UV light, photocatalyst titanium dioxide could breakdown numerous organic substances
such as oil grime and hydrocarbons from car exhaust and industrial smog, volatile organic
compounds found in various building materials and furniture, organic growth such as fungus and
mildew. In addition to its photocatalytic oxidation effect, titanium dioxide coating also exhibited
hydrophilic property (or high water-affinity) which titanium dioxide coating attracted water moist in
the air to form an invisible film of water. This thin film of water allowed the substrate to be anti-
static so the coated surface could be easily cleaned by rinse of water. For years, titanium dioxide was
used in many commodity products such as paint, cosmetics, sun blocks, and etc. It is a safe and
stable substance commonly found in our lives. Numerous applications have been developed from
utilizing photocatalytic reaction.

Importance of photocatalysis

1. Anti-Bacterial Effect
Photocatalyst does not only kill bacteria cells, but also decompose the cell itself. The
titanium dioxide photocatalyst has been found to be more effective than any other
antibacterial agent, because the photocatalytic reaction works even when there are cells
covering the surface and while the bacteria are actively propagating. The end toxin produced
at the death of cell is also expected to be decomposed by photocatalytic action. Titanium
dioxide does not deteriorate and it shows a long-term anti-bacterial effect. Generally
speaking, disinfections by titanium oxide is three times stronger than chlorine, and 1.5 times
stronger than ozone.

2. Deodorizing Effect
On the deodorizing application, the hydroxyl radicals accelerate the breakdown of any
Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs by destroying the molecular bonds. This will help
combine the organic gases to form a single molecule that is not harmful to humans thus
enhance the air cleaning efficiency. Some of the examples of odor molecules are: Tobacco
odor, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, urine and fecal odor, gasoline, and many other hydro
carbon molecules in the atmosphere. Air purifier with Ti02 can prevent smoke and soil,
pollen, bacteria, virus and harmful gas as well as seize the free bacteria in the air by filtering
percentage of 99.9% with the help of the highly oxidizing effect of photocatalyst (Ti02).
 3. Air Purifying Effect
The photocatalytic reactivity of titanium oxides can be applied for the reduction or
elimination of polluted compounds in air such as NOx, cigarette smoke, as well as volatile
compounds arising from various construction materials. Also, high photocatalytic reactivity
can be applied to protect lamp-houses and walls in tunneling, as well as to prevent white
tents from becoming sooty and dark. Atmospheric constituents such as chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) and CFC substitutes, greenhouse gases, and nitrogenous and sulfurous compounds
undergo photochemical reactions either directly or indirectly in the presence of sunlight. In a
polluted area, these pollutants can eventually be removed.

4. Anti fogging, Self-Cleaning

Most of the exterior walls of buildings become soiled from automotive exhaust fumes,
which contain oily components. When the original building materials are coated with a
photocatalyst, a protective film of titanium provides the self-cleaning building by becoming
antistatic, super oxidative, and hydrophilic. The hydrocarbon from automotive exhaust is
oxidized and the dirt on the walls washes away with rainfall, keeping the building exterior
clean at all times.

5. Water Purification
Photocatalyst coupled with UV lights can oxidize organic pollutants into nontoxic materials,
such as CO 2 and water and can disinfect certain bacteria. This technology is very effective at
removing further hazardous organic compounds (TOCs) and at killing a variety of bacteria
and some viruses in the secondary wastewater treatment. Pilot projects demonstrated that
photocatalytic detoxification systems could effectively kill fecal coli form bacteria in
secondary wastewater treatment.

Applications
1. Self Cleaning Surfaces

Cleanliness and maintenance issues are the key drivers for applications of selfcleaning surfaces2 .
Two major variants are directly related to the treatment of surfaces with photocatalysts. TiO2 is
again most commonly used: light induced destruction of adherent organic molecules and is of
particular importance for anti bacterial, antivirus and fungicidal applications. Particular relevance is
given to surface sterilisation in areas such as biomedical engineering and food preparation.

2. Super Hydrophilic Surfaces

"Photoinduced hydro philicity" is generated by the exposure of a TiO2 treated surface to
intense UV light. Water is pre vented from forming droplets and instead covers the surface
with a homogeneous thin wetting layer, which penetrates below dirt particles. Hydrophilic
surfaces are thus easy to clean by pure water sprinkling and demonstrate considerable anti
fogging effects. Wet vehicle rearview mirrors will therefore impact on the users view to a
lesser extent. A combination of both effects generates consider able self cleaning
properties. Organic dirt can eas ily be washed off, for example by the next rain shower,
surfaces remain clean, and moreover pos sess antimicrobial properties. Photocatalytically
 active surfaces of glass, metals or ceramics are widely established. Further re search is
required, however, for plastic surfaces. Conventional high temperature processing is often
not suitable here and the plastic surfaces them selves suffer from photocatalytic
decomposition.

3. Air Purification
Photocatalytic surfaces have the potential to act against a variety of air pollutants and
odours such as microbes, volatile organic carbons (VOC), for maldehyde, ammonia and
inorganic gaseous sub stances such as nitrogen or sulphuroxides (NOX, SOX). Meanwhile a
variety of technical products are commercially available. Applications include photocatalytic
components for air filters, ventila tion, and air conditioning systems via active de
composition of cigarette smoke or automotive and industrial exhaust to general air purifying
effects of larger photoactive building elements. However, photocatalysis is associated with a
cer tain amount of ozone (O3) development, which may cause harm at higher
concentrations. Although small, this effect should be taken into account.

Advantages of photocatalysis

1.STERILIZATION / ANTI-MICROBIAL
Photocatalyst does not only kill bacteria cells, but also decompose the cell itself. The titanium dioxide
photocatalyst has been found to be more effective than any other antibacterial agent, because the
photocatalytic reaction works even when there are cells covering the surface and while the bacteria are
actively propagating. The endotoxin produced at the death of cell is also expected to be decomposed by
photocatalytic action. Titanium dioxide does not deteriorate and it shows a long-term anti-bacterial
effect. Generally speaking, disinfections by titanium oxide is three times stronger than chlorine, and 1.5
times stronger than ozone.

2. DEODORIZING EFFECT
On the deodorizing application, the hydroxyl radicals accelerate the breakdown of any Volatile Organic
Compounds or VOCs by destroying the molecular bonds. This will help combine the organic gases to form
a single molecule that is not harmful to humans thus enhance the air cleaning efficiency. Some of the
examples of odor molecules are: Tobacco odor, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, urine and fecal odor,
gasoline, and many other hydro carbon molecules in the atmosphere.

Air purifier with Ti02 can prevent smoke and soil, pollen, bacteria, virus and harmful gas as well as seize
the free bacteria in the air by filtering percentage of 99.9% with the help of the highly oxidizing effect of
photocatalyst(Ti02).

3. AIR PURIFYING EFFECT

The photocatalytic reactivity of titanium oxides can be applied for the reduction or elimination of
polluted compounds in air such as NOx, cigarette smoke, as well as volatile compounds arising from
various construction materials. Also, high photocatalytic reactivity can be applied to protect lamp-houses
and walls in tunneling, as well as to prevent white tents from becoming sooty and dark. Atmospheric
constituents such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and CFC substitutes, greenhouse gases, and nitrogenous
and sulfurous compounds undergo photochemical reactions either directly or indirectly in the presence
of sunlight. In a polluted area, these pollutants can eventually be removed.
4. SELF-CLEANING
Most of the exterior walls of buildings become soiled from automotive exhaust fumes, which contain oily
components. When the original building materials are coated with a photocatalyst, a protective film of
titanium provides the self-cleaning building by becoming antistatic, super oxidative, and hydrophilic. The
hydrocarbon from automotive exhaust is oxidized and the dirt on the walls washes away with rainfall,
keeping the building exterior clean at all times.

5. WATER PURIFICATION
Photocatalytic water purification technology creates safe water by utilizing suns ultraviolet rays and
photocatalysts to react with harmful substances in the water, rendering them harmless. Compared to
chlorination or chemical purification, the impact on the environment is minimal, and it provides the
advantage of detoxifying the remained harmful substances after chlorination.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of the most well-known superior photocatalyst. When it is placed in water
and exposed to ultraviolet light, the energy of that light is transmitted to the electrons in the titanium
dioxide particles, and high-energy electrons (electron excitation) are generated on the surface of particles
In addition to purifying toxic metals like arsenic and hexavalent chromium, these high-energy electrons
react with oxygen in the water to generate reactive oxygen, purifying bacteria and organic substances.
Reactive oxygen is also generated when the surface of photocatalytic particles from which electrons have
already been ejected come in contact with water, contributing to the efficiency of the water purifying
effect.