title: UV-stable paper coated with APTES-modified P25 TiO₂ nanoparticles.
abstract: In order to inhibit the photocatalytic degradation of organic material supports induced by small titania (TiO2) nanoparticles, highly photocatalytically active, commercially available P25-TiO2 nanoparticles were first modified with a thin layer of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), which were then deposited and fixed onto the surface of paper samples via a simple, dip-coating process in water at room temperature. The resultant APTES-modified P25 TiO2 nanoparticle-coated paper samples exhibit much greater stability to UV-illumination than uncoated blank reference paper. Very little, or no, photo-degradation in terms of brightness and whiteness, respectively, of the P25-TiO2-nanoparticle-treated paper is observed. There are many other potential applications for this Green Chemistry approach to protect cellulosic fibres from UV-bleaching in sunlight and to protect their whiteness and maintain their brightness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK. Electronic address: cheng_f@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
authors.forename: Seyed Mani
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sajedin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK. Electronic address: s.m.kelly@hull.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: European Bioenergy Research Institute, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK.
authors.forename: Adam F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper, Haidmuehlstrasse 2-4, A-3363 Ulmerfeld-Hausmening, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kornherr
keywords: APTES; Dip-coating; Green chemistry; P25 TiO(2) nanoparticles; UV-stable paper