SBIR Phase I: Low-Cost Photocatalytic Treatment to Seal Existing Concrete, Stone, Masonry or Other Cementitious Surfaces and Make Them Self-Cleaning

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目解决了多孔建筑材料（如混凝土、石材和相关胶结材料）的有机污染问题。这些材料上的污染物范围从汽车液体到油墨再到生物制剂，如真菌。这项研究探索了一种独特的低成本（约10美分/平方英尺）正在申请专利的处理方法，可以在几天的时间内实现对常见有机表面污染物的显著光催化分解。这种耐用、表面修饰、自清洁的纳米技术既能永久密封毛孔，又能使表面具有光活性。这种综合效应使污染物保持在表面，并在那里分解它们，或者使它们更容易被传统的清洁剂接触到。因此，经过处理的表面对霉菌是无害的——无需使用杀菌剂——并且在很大程度上“自己照顾自己”。我们的研究目标包括确认耐久性和有效性的各种理论预测。该项目将实验测试和优化以下特性，其中包括：1)光催化反应的速度，2)对有机径流和霉菌侵扰的有效性，3)机械和光催化耐久性，4)盆栽寿命和5)保质期。试点研究表明，在汽车油污路面和发霉人行道上取得了初步成功；第一阶段的研究将进一步确认这些初步数据，并扩大对这些数据的信心。由于有机污染物每年仅在美国就造成数亿美元的损失，因此该项目的广泛影响/商业潜力很大。这些损害表现为由于预计的有机径流而导致的项目延迟或取消，建筑物或其他表面的损坏，或难看的霉菌的生长，大约10%的普通人群对霉菌过敏。在美国，每年大约有1亿美元花费在水泥密封剂上，而这些密封剂只是部分有效；一种更有效的密封剂可以创造数百万美元的新经济活动。这种“绿色产品”易于应用，并且理想的表面特性，如湿牵引或蒸汽传输，在其应用后不会改变。另一些人则提出使用更昂贵的有机赋形剂的表面膜涂层，这些赋形剂与无机基质的相容性较差，耐用性较差，或者本身易受光催化分解。这种新方法既保证了材料的相容性，又保证了低成本。这种方法在成本（其价格是自清洁欧洲混凝土的十倍）和性能（即，竞争材料保持渗透性，吸收水分，并可以将污染物带入地下，在那里它们更具有挑战性）方面也具有优势。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the problem of organic contamination on porous building materials such as concrete, stone, and related cementitious materials. Contaminants on these materials range from automotive fluids to inks to biological agents, such as fungi. This research explores a unique low-cost (~10 cents/square foot) patent-pending treatment that achieves significant photocatalytic breakdown of common organic surface contaminants over a time span of days. This durable, surface-modifying, self-cleaning nanotechnology both permanently seals pores and makes surfaces photoactive. This combined effect keeps contaminants at the surface and there breaks them down, or makes them more accessible to conventional cleaners. Treated surfaces are consequently inimical to molds - without using a biocide - and largely "take care of themselves". Our research objectives include confirming various theoretical predictions of durability and effectiveness. This project will experimentally test and optimize the following characteristics, among others: 1) speed of photocatalytic reactions, 2) effectiveness regarding organic runoff and mold infestation, 3) mechanical and photocatalytic durability, 4) pot life and 5) shelf life. Pilot research has demonstrated preliminary success on auto oil-laden roads and moldy walkways; the Phase I research will result in further confirmation of, and expanded confidence in, these preliminary data.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is large since organic contaminants inflict hundreds of millions of dollars of damage annually in the United States alone. These damages are manifested in the form of projects delayed or cancelled due to projected organic runoff, the defacing of buildings or other surfaces, or the growth of unsightly molds, to which about 10% of the general population is allergic. Perhaps $100 million dollars is spent annually in the United States on concrete sealants that are only partially effective; a more effective sealant could create millions of dollars of new economic activity. This "green product" is easy to apply and desirable surface characteristics, such as wet traction or vapor transmission, are unchanged by its application. Others have proposed surface-membrane coatings with more-costly organic excipients that are less compatible with inorganic substrates and less durable, or are themselves susceptible to photocatalytic breakdown. This new method ensures both materials compatibility and low cost. This method also compares favorably with self-cleaning European concretes in both cost (they are ten times as expensive) and performance (i.e., the competing materials remain permeable, absorb moisture, and can draw contaminants into the subsurface where they are more challenging to address).