title: Photocatalytic self-cleaning keratins: A feasibility study.
abstract: Anatase nanocrystals were successfully synthesized and deposited on protein keratin-type wool fibers with good compatibility and significant photocatalytic self-cleaning activity using the sol-gel process. Due to the low chemical resistance and liability to photo-degradation of protein materials, the effect of the acid catalyst used in the sol synthesis was studied. The sols were prepared using oxidizing and non-oxidizing catalysts, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, respectively, for the hydrolysis and condensation reactions of the titanium dioxide precursor. The size distribution and crystallinity of the sols were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. The compatibility of sol formulations and wool is thoroughly compared and discussed by analyzing fibers photo-degradation, surface morphology and self-cleaning properties including stain degradation and colorant decomposition. The UV absorption and mechanical properties of wool fibers before and after coating are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Monash University, Churchill, VIC. 3842, Australia.
authors.forename: Wing Sze
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Walid A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Daoud
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007633:Keratins / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D044367:Phase Transition; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C009495:titanium dioxide; D007633:Keratins; D014025:Titanium; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D010100:Oxygen