Thin Coatings with Photo-Catalytic Activity Based on Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Polymers Modified with Anatase Nanoparticles

Summary: Inorganic-organic hybrid polymer sols where modified with differently prepared as well as commercial titania nanoparticles, to obtain coatings exhibiting a photo-catalytic activity for the development of self-cleaning textiles. The particles synthesized using a sol-gel-approach where, amongst others, investigated by XRD to prove the existence of titania crystallized in the anatase structure. The photo-catalytic activity of the different particles as well of the coatings was compared by the decomposition of astrazone red induced by an irradiation with artificial and solar UV-radiation. With respect to the underlying aim of the investigation the durability of the effect against washing was tested by standardized washing experiments, showing promising results.