Nanotechnological Advances in Catalytic Thin Films for Green Large-Area Surfaces

Suzan Biran Ay,Nihan Kosku Perkgoz

doi:10.1155/2015/257547

Abstract

Large-area catalytic thin films offer great potential for green technology applications in order to save energy, combat pollution, and reduce global warming. These films, either embedded with nanoparticles, shaped with nanostructuring techniques, hybridized with other systems, or functionalized with bionanotechnological methods, can include many different surface properties including photocatalytic, antifouling, abrasion resistant and mechanically resistive, self-cleaning, antibacterial, hydrophobic, and oleophobic features. Thus, surface functionalization with such advanced structuring methods is of significance to increase the performance and wide usage of large-area thin film coatings specifically for environmental remediation. In this review, we focus on methods to increase the efficiency of catalytic reactions in thin film and hence improve the performance in relevant applications while eliminating high cost with the purpose of widespread usage. However, we also include the most recent hybrid architectures, which have potential to make a transformational change in surface applications as soon as high quality and large area production techniques are available. Hence, we present and discuss research studies regarding both organic and inorganic methods that are used to structure thin films that have potential for large-area and eco-friendly coatings.

Highlights

Structuring thin films at nanometer scale enables distinctive mechanical, chemical, and physical surface functionalities including higher surface area, self-cleaning, photocatalytic, antibacterial, nontoxic, antifouling, hydrophobic, and oleophobic properties [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Large-area catalytic thin films are highly promising for green technology applications to save energy and combat pollution and global warming
Organic and inorganic catalytic materials have been investigated comprehensively, considering their geometrical and electronic structures, surface reactions, synergistic behavior with other material systems, and stability issues. Catalysts lose their effectiveness when they are immobilized in thin films compared to the case when they operate in aqueous environment

Summary

Introduction

Structuring thin films at nanometer scale enables distinctive mechanical, chemical, and physical surface functionalities including higher surface area, self-cleaning, photocatalytic, antibacterial, nontoxic, antifouling, hydrophobic, and oleophobic properties [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Green approaches are essential considering the population increase and growth in industry and their inevitable impact on the world’s natural resources Such smart and functional coatings can be utilized in different fields including construction industry to enhance material properties and provide energy conservation [9], flexible surfaces with high hydrophobicity [10] and high conductivity [11], large-area solar modules [12, 13], structures with high mechanical strength [14], bioremediation [15], textiles [16], biomedical applications [17], antifouling [18], and photocatalytic applications [19, 20]. This review excludes prior thin film nanoelectronics research work that cannot be associated with eco-friendly applications and focuses on novel methods to improve solid film catalytic efficiencies preferably at low cost for wide spread usage

Increasing the Performance of Catalytic Thin Films

Notes on film performance

Growth Techniques towards Large-Area Catalytic Coatings

Large-Area Applications of Multifunctional Catalytic Films Future Prospects

Findings

Conclusions