6533b872fe1ef96bd12d30e4
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Self-cleaning antimicrobial surfaces by bio-enabled growth of SnO2 coatings on glass.
Wolfgang TremelFilipe NatalioRute AndréRüdiger BergerMuhammed Nawaz Tahirsubject
FabricationMaterials sciencePhotolysisRhodaminesSurface PropertiesCationic polymerizationTin CompoundsNanotechnologyengineering.materialAntimicrobiallaw.inventionBiofoulingCoatingCoated Materials BiocompatiblelawBiomimetic MaterialsAmphiphileengineeringDegradation (geology)Organic chemistryGeneral Materials ScienceSpermineGlassCrystallizationCrystallizationdescription
Conventional vapor-deposition techniques for coatings require sophisticated equipment and/or high-temperature resistant substrates. Therefore bio-inspired techniques for the fabrication of inorganic coatings have been developed in recent years. Inspired by the biology behind the formation of the intricate skeletons of diatoms orchestrated by a class of cationic polyamines (silaffins) we have used surface-bound spermine, a naturally occurring polyamine, to promote the fast deposition of homogeneous, thin and transparent biomimetic SnO2 coatings on glass surfaces. The bio-enabled SnO2 film is highly photoactive, i.e. it generates superoxide radicals (O2˙(-)) upon sunlight exposure resulting in a strong degradation of organic contaminants and a strong antimicrobial activity. Upon illumination the biomimetic SnO2 coating exhibits a switchable amphiphilic behavior, which - in combination with its photoactivity - creates a self-cleaning surface. The intrinsic self-cleaning properties could lead to the development of new protective, antifouling coatings on various substrates.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-03-12 | Nanoscale |