STTR Phase I: Benign Thin Film Composite Particles for Protection from UVA/UVB - Rays

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This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will develop composite TiO2/ZnO (Titania /Zinc Oxide) particles capped with an Al2O3 nanolayer for benign protection from UVA/UVB - rays. Titania (TiO2) provides excellent protection against UVB - rays. Zinc oxide (ZnO) protects against UVA-rays very efficiently. The manufacture of composite particles via novel Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) thin film technology allows for the synthesis of composite particles with dual effectiveness. In the first aspect of this work, ZnO will be deposited on nanosized TiO2 particles by ALD. In the second aspect of this work, nanolaminated films of TiO2 and ZnO will be prepared on the surface of submicron sized spherical silica (SiO2) particles. The large substrate SiO2 will provide a particle size for the "UVA/UVB sun blockers" that will be large enough to prevent pore blockage in human skin. In both instances, the composite particles will be capped with an alumina (Al2O3) nanolayer that will allow easy dispersion of these particles in non-aqueous formulations. The Al2O3 nanolayer will also prevent direct contact of the active TiO2/ZnO with the skin, thus protecting the skin from potential UV-hot activated reactions. The particles will be tested for UVA/UVB transmittance and Sun Protection Factors (SPF) will be calculated.The broader impacts of the technology could be the ability to produce ultrafine particles with designed electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, rheological properties, this technology could have significant commercial impact on microelectronics, defense, hard-metals, cosmetics, drug delivery, energetic materials, and polymer/ceramic nanocomposites.