Enhancing the superhydrophobicity, UV-resistance, and antifungal properties of natural wood surfaces via in situ formation of ZnO, ▫$TiO_2▫$, and ▫$SiO_2▫$ particles

Paul, Dabosmita (author), Petrič, Marko (author), Humar, Miha (author), Švara Fabjan, Erika (author), Gaff, Milan (author), Tesařová, Daniela (author)

This study investigates the in situ synthesis and formation of zinc oxide (ZnO), silicon dioxide (SiO2), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles within the wood structure to modify the wood surface, aiming to improve the hydrophobicity, UV resistance, and antifungal properties of Scots pine and Norway spruce wood. The formation of particles in the modified wood and untreated wood surfaces was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to study the microstructure and chemical composition, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the type of crystallisation, and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to analyse the bonding forces. Results indicated that TiO2 and SiO2 treatments significantly improved both wood species’ surface hydrophobicity and UV resistance properties compared to ZnO-treated wood. On the other hand, ZnO treatment enhanced antifungal properties, offering effective protection against fungal decay in both wood species, while TiO2 and SiO2 showed less pronounced effects. This study showcases the potential of ZnO, SiO2, and TiO2 particle treatments to enhance the surface properties of natural wood, paving the way for the effective and environmentally friendly development of hybrid wood for various applications in the wood industry and beyond.

• Language: English
• Keywords: in situ synthesis, UV resistance, antifungal properties, surface modification, hybrid wood
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 17 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 14, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-170975
• UDC: 630*8
• ISSN on article: 2191-9097
• DOI: 10.1515/ntrev-2025-0171
• COBISS.SI-ID: 243662851
• Publication date in RUL: 24.07.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Nanotechnology reviews : Elektronski vir
• Shortened title: Nanotechnol. rev.
• Publisher: de Gruyter
• ISSN: 2191-9097
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522766361

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: sinteza in situ, hidrofobnost, fungicidne lastnosti, površinska modifikacija, UV odpornost, hibridni les

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0273-2019
• Name: Gradbeni objekti in materiali

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Project number: LM2023051
• Name: CzechNanoLab project