Tailored nanoscaled TiO2 dispersions for photocatalytic applications S. Pilotek*, K. Gossmann**, F. Tabellion**, K. Steingröver**, H. Homann*** *Buhler Inc. (PARTEC), Austin TX, USA,
[email protected] **Bühler PARTEC GmbH, Saarbrücken, Germany,
[email protected] ***Bühler AG (PARTEC), Uzwil, Switzerland,
[email protected] ABSTRACT (anatase, rutile, and brookite) is the most active. Usually, nanoscaled anatase is considered as the most active phase. We present the production of photocatalytic TiO2 It is highly important, however, to design the dispersions in water and organic solvents for various photocatalyst such that a large fraction of the catalytic applications as well as an application of such dispersions in surface area is accessible. Nano powders intrinsically have a self cleaning transparent hard coat. TiO2 dispersions in a large specific surface, however, agglomeration usually water may be used in aqueous systems, whereas TiO2 in reduces the accessible area. Thus, processing has an organic solvents can be integrated into suitable binders immediate effect on efficiency. At the same time, including screen printing pastes. We stress the importance sufficiently dispersed nanoscaled particles allow to produce of dispersion quality with respect to the application to transparent materials. produce efficient photocatalytic materials. Apart from the We present various photocatalytic TiO2 dispersions in photocatalytic effect itself which is intrinsic to TiO2, the water and organic solvents produced by top-down and main challenges comprise the chemical degradation of the bottom-up methods. Dispersing nanoparticles needs special matrix and the particle integration into a suitable matrix. attention since colloidal systems are very sensitive to We use the chemomechanical process to produce change within a formulation.