Study on Photo catalytic Self-Cleaning concrete using Titanium Dioxide
BUILDING FACADES
Fig 9.2: Hydrophilic property of photo catalytic concrete
Source: www.content.iospress.com/buildingfacades
White cement is a key ingredient in architectural and decorative concrete. By using it, in
particular, the resulting concrete not only becomes an expressive material that having an infinite
range of color tones, intensifies one of its aesthetic qualities, but could also gain remarkable
validity in terms of structural qualities due to its high mechanical strength. Indeed, a new type of
white cement is here proposed, containing TiO2, possessing photocatalytic properties which allow
maintaining the aesthetic characteristics of concrete over time and contribute to eliminate
dangerous pollutants from the urban environment.
Hydrophilic property of the photocatalytic concrete is the underlying principle of the self-
cleaning action. The super-hydrophilic reaction has three processes. First is the absorption of a
photon to produce an electron/hole pair. The second is that instead of the hydroxyl and superoxide
being produced, the TiO2 surface is reduced and an oxygen vacancy is created. The third is when
oxygen in the air immediately oxidizes Ti3+. However, the oxygen bonds with a water molecule to
form a hydroxyl group on the surface. The creation of the hydroxyl group on the surface acts as a
chemisorbed water layer. When pollutants such as dirt, grit and organics come into contact with
1
Dept. of Civil Engineering, SIMAT Vavanoor
BUILDING FACADES
Fig 9.2: Hydrophilic property of photo catalytic concrete
Source: www.content.iospress.com/buildingfacades
White cement is a key ingredient in architectural and decorative concrete. By using it, in
particular, the resulting concrete not only becomes an expressive material that having an infinite
range of color tones, intensifies one of its aesthetic qualities, but could also gain remarkable
validity in terms of structural qualities due to its high mechanical strength. Indeed, a new type of
white cement is here proposed, containing TiO2, possessing photocatalytic properties which allow
maintaining the aesthetic characteristics of concrete over time and contribute to eliminate
dangerous pollutants from the urban environment.
Hydrophilic property of the photocatalytic concrete is the underlying principle of the self-
cleaning action. The super-hydrophilic reaction has three processes. First is the absorption of a
photon to produce an electron/hole pair. The second is that instead of the hydroxyl and superoxide
being produced, the TiO2 surface is reduced and an oxygen vacancy is created. The third is when
oxygen in the air immediately oxidizes Ti3+. However, the oxygen bonds with a water molecule to
form a hydroxyl group on the surface. The creation of the hydroxyl group on the surface acts as a
chemisorbed water layer. When pollutants such as dirt, grit and organics come into contact with
1
Dept. of Civil Engineering, SIMAT Vavanoor
