Systems developed for application as self-cleaning surfaces and/or antimicrobial properties: a short review on materials and production methods

Abstract

Herein we present a short review of different materials and techniques that have been used for the production of surfaces with self-cleaning and/or antimicrobial properties. From this, it was verified that titanium dioxide was the most frequently used compound to obtain surfaces with these properties; however, other materials such as silica, zinc and silver have also been used for this purpose. The spin-coating and dip-coating techniques were the most used techniques, and the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most used in the antimicrobial assays. The analyzed studies showed that it is possible to obtain surfaces with both self-cleaning and/or antimicrobial properties, as well as with photocatalytic activity. Regarding possible applications, it is possible to highlight the interest in the production of glass and medical devices with self-cleaning and/or antimicrobial action.

Simple Fabrication of Transparent, Colorless, and Self-Disinfecting Polyethylene Terephthalate Film via Cold Plasma Treatment

“…Accordingly, the development of advanced techniques for antibacterial and antifouling surfaces is urgently needed and has been the subject of significant attention in recent years. Various techniques such as spin-coating, dip-coating, grafting, doctor blading, layer-by-layer, spermine-functionalization, magnetron sputtering, and chemical vapor deposition have been mainly used to fabricate surfaces with antimicrobial, antifouling, and self-cleaning properties [4][5][6].…”

Self-Cleaning Coatings and Surfaces of Modern Building Materials for the Removal of Some Air Pollutants

“…and Gallionella spp.). In the case of painted surfaces, bacteria of the genus Flavobacterium Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Streptomyces as well as fungi of the genus Acremonium charticola, A. strictum, A. kiliense, Acremonium spp., Cladosporium, Mycelia sterilia, Scopulariopsis brevicaulus, Verticillium lecanii, Verticillium suchlasporium, Verticillium sp., Fusarium and Penicillium or Aspergillus versicolor and actinobacteria may be present [59,[105][106][107][108][109].…”

“…The decomposition of organic compounds in the photodegradation process produces less toxic products, such as CO 2 and water. However, the effectiveness of these processes depends on the intensity of radiation, the presence of other compounds, and the presence of competing reactions [ 58 , 59 ].…”

“…Also important, the contact angle with water for several metal oxides, such as WO 3 and V 2 O 5 , decreases in response to UV radiation. Thus, the photocatalytic decomposition of pollutants adsorbed on the surface may influence the phenomenon of surface wetting [ 58 , 59 , 63 ]. One hypothesis indicates that the efficiency of photoinduced superhydrophilic conversion strongly depends on the intensity and wavelength of actinic light.…”

“…It has also been found that the hydrophilic conversion depends on the temperature and acidity of the surface. The change of surface acidity changes the trapping efficiency of charge carriers, which in turn determines the interaction between surface hydroxyl groups and outer hydroxyl layers, and thus affects the efficiency of photo-induced hydrophilic conversion [ 58 , 59 , 64 ]. It should be added that the electronic structure near the surface is significantly different than that in the material depth, which determines many macroscopic effects and phenomena on surfaces, including surface energy (tension), adhesion forces and specific chemical reactivity of individual surfaces.…”