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Country of origin: Portugal

Summary

A Portuguese University has developed a heterostructured layered material that can be used as a functional coating composed by a photocatalytic thin film, capable of dissociating and degrading polymer nano/microcapsules, enabling subsequently the controlled release of vapours(volatile agents). This technology can be used in the medical,pharmaceutical,biotechnology, sanitary,building,cosmetic, automobile and food industries. The University is looking for co-development or manufacturing agreement.

Full description

The present invention consists of a layered coating structure containing a photocatalytic material in the form of a thin film (which can be titanium dioxide, or other similar photocatalytic material), which upon solar illumination initiates redox mechanisms that are efficient in degrading and dissociate the polymeric walls of the nano or microcapsules that are adsorbed on photocatalytic material surface, promoting subsequently the controlled release of a volatile agent.
The nano or microcapsules, which are adsorbed on the photocatalytic coating, are of polymeric nature, having a wall thickness of few nanometers that can be degradable by means of solar light.
After the depletion of the micro or nanocapsules that host the volatile agent, the photocatalytic surface can be replenished or recharged by simple spraying an aerosol containing the mentioned micro or nanocapsules.
It is important to note that after the photocatalytic material is deposited on a particular surface (e.g. glass window, lamps, furniture, tiles, cloth, net, etc.) there is no need to deposit it again, only to replenish the surface occasionally with the nano or microcapsules hosting the volatile agents to be released.
The nano or microcapsules encapsulate a volatile agent that can be, for example, an insecticide, repellent, perfume or deodorant.

Innovative Aspects

The principal advantage in using a photocatalytic coating material capable of dissociating and degrading micro and nanocapsules containing volatile agents by solar exposure resides particularly in the:
- Control the biological activity such as propagation of insects;
- Possibility of deposition this heterostructure in various types of surfaces (e.g. glass, plastic, ceramic, metal, stone, wood, textile, etc.);
- Replenishing of the volatile agent (insecticide, repellent, perfume, deodorant) by aerosol spraying;
- Reduce the costs with the regeneration of the volatile compounds.

Partner expertise sought:

- Type of partner sought: Industry.

- Specific area of activity of the partner and task to be performed by the partner sought: The University is looking for companies interested in co-developing the technology for being adapted and tested in accordance with the application envisaged. Also companies able to scale up the technology operations and manufacturing are pertinent.

Listed under: Industrial Manufacture \ Materials Technology \ Paper, Pulp, Textiles, Leather and Footwear

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Key dates Profile created on: 28 July 2010 Closing date: 12 November 2010

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