Transparent photocatalytic thin films on flexible polymer substrates

Vodišek, Nives (avtor), Šuligoj, Andraž (avtor), Korte, Dorota (avtor), Lavrenčič Štangar, Urška (avtor)

Self-cleaning and/or photocatalytic films on polymer substrates have found numerous applications during the past decades. However, the common demand for high-temperature post synthesis treatment limits the application to temperature resistant substrates only. Herein, we prepared self-cleaning photocatalytic films on four thermosensitive polymeric substrates: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and acryl coated polyester (PES) fabric (D2) with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) containing lacquer (D1). TiO$_2$ was prepared via a low-temperature sol-gel process using titanium(IV) isopropoxide and zirconium(IV) butoxide as precursors with various loading levels of Zr; 0, 5, 10, and 20 mol.%, and deposited on the substrates by using a SiO$_2$ binder in form of thin films (ca. 200 nm thick) via dip-coating. The films were characterized by SEM, hardness test, UV-Vis, photothermal beam deflection spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy, while photocatalytic activity was measured by the fluorescence-based method of the terephthalic acid probe and wetting by contact angle measurements. Films containing 10 mol.% of Zr showed the best compromise regarding photocatalytic activity and mechanical stability while from substrates point of view PVC performed the best, followed by PMMA, D1, and D2. The beneficial role of SiO$_2$ binder was not only guaranteeing excellent mechanical stability, but also to prevent the D1 polymer from deterioration; the latter was found to be labile to long-term solar-light exposure due to degradation of the top PVDF layer.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: photocatalysis, self-cleaning surface, TiO$_2$, ZrO$_2$, SiO$_2$, transparent films, thermosensitive substrates, PMMA, PVC, PES, PVDF
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FKKT - Fakulteta za kemijo in kemijsko tehnologijo
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2018
• Št. strani: 16 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 11, iss. 10, art. 1945
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-132115
• UDK: 54
• ISSN pri članku: 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma11101945
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5251067
• Datum objave v RUL: 13.10.2021

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Materials
• Skrajšan naslov: Materials
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.
• Začetek licenciranja: 11.10.2018