Antifungal and Photocatalytic Activity of Smart Paint Containing Porous Microspheres of TiO2

Suélen Maria De Amorim,Denise Esteves Moritz,Michele Di Domenico,Letícia Alves Da Costa Laqua,Regina De Fátima Peralta Muniz Moreira,Gláucia Maria Falcão Aragão,Joice Cristine Sapatieri,Camilla Daniela Moura-Nickel

doi:10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2019-0470

Suélen Maria De Amorim, Denise Esteves Moritz + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-5373-mr-2019-0470

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Abstract

In this study, porous microspheres of TiO2 (µTiO2) were synthesized, characterized and incorporated into an acrylic paint formulation to obtain a photocatalytically active paint. In a novel approach, the antifungal properties of the µTiO2 paint were evaluated using Monascus ruber as the representative microorganism and compared to those of a photocatalyst-free paint. The photocatalytic activity of paint films was determined by methylene blue (MB) degradation under real conditions of application. High photocatalytic and antifungal activity was observed, with the microorganism culture showing the formation of growth inhibition halos, typical of materials that produce biocides that diffuse into the culture medium.

Highlights

Photocatalytic paints are self-cleaning, since undesirable substances on the surface are removed through the simple incidence of light 1
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the antifungal properties of paint containing mesoporous microspheres of TiO2 evaluated using Monascus ruber as the representative microorganism
The antifungal activity of titanium dioxide has been studied extensively . 33–36 most previous studies carried out with immobilized photocatalysts involve surfaces coated with TiO2 films 37–40 and only a few authors report the antifungal activity of photocatalytic paint . 8,26,41,42 To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the antifungal properties of paint containing mesoporous microspheres of TiO2 evaluated using Monascus ruber as the representative microorganism

Summary

Introduction

Photocatalytic paints are self-cleaning, since undesirable substances on the surface are removed through the simple incidence of light 1. This photocatalytic activity, is not selective and in addition to pollutants the polymer paint matrix can be degraded 1,2. Most research has been focused on photocatalytic paints formulated with anatase nanoparticles, due to their high photocatalytic activity 3–8. Nanoparticles, which have a high surface area, when homogeneously distributed in the film and under a light source, tend to rapidly degrade the paint film around them, causing photochalking 1,9. It is necessary to achieve a balance between these two aspects, so that the paint is efficient without accelerating the autodegradation

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