APPLICATION OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE PHOTOCATALYSIS TO CREATE SELF-CLEANING MATERIALS

In order to realize self-cleaning material surfaces there are two principal ways: the de- velopment of super-hydrophobic or super-hydrophilic materials. By transferring the microstructure of selected plant surfaces to practical materials like tiles and facade paints, super- hydrophobic surfaces were obtained (Lotus effect). Super-hydrophilic materials may be developed by coating glass, ceramic tiles or plastics with the semiconducting photocatalyst titanium dioxide (TiO2). If TiO2 is illuminated by light, grease, dirt and organic contaminants are decomposed and can easily be swept away by water (rain).