A recent article on phys.org discusses the development of titanium oxide nanoparticles that are capable of cleaning walls and the air in a room when added to paint. These nanoparticles were created by a research team from TU Wien and the Università Politecnica delle Marche in Italy. When mixed with standard paint, the nanoparticles utilize sunlight to activate the self-cleaning properties of the paint.
The nanoparticles work by binding substances from the air and then breaking them down afterwards. This innovative technology allows painted walls to not only clean themselves but also improve indoor air quality by eliminating pollutants. This can help combat the issue of “sick building syndrome,” where poor air quality negatively affects the health of those inside a building.
Professor Günther Rupprechter from TU Wien explained that titanium oxide nanoparticles have the ability to bind and break down a wide range of pollutants, making them particularly useful for this application. The research showed that 96% of air and wall pollutants can be removed by exposing them to simple sunlight with the help of these nanoparticles.
One of the study’s authors, Qaisar Maqbool, highlighted that detailed analysis of the particles and their behavior before and after being added to wall paint was conducted to better understand the process. Further research is planned with the goal of creating a commercially available paint product using this technology. For additional information on the study and technology, visit the link provided in the article.