BrainMap

Mrs. Alina Raditoiu

PhD

Researcher - Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Researcher

Expertise & keywords

New generation of photocatalytic self-cleaning systems for functionalization of technical textiles and architectural coatings Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0864 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO); INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE FIZICA - ILIE MURGULESCU (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA MATERIALELOR BUCURESTI RA (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA LASERILOR, PLASMEI SI RADIATIEI - INFLPR RA (RO); CHIMCOLOR S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO)

Project website: http://www.cleanphotocoat.roit.ro

Abstract:

Pollution and its side effects on health, structural damage of materials, costs for maintenance, cleaning and replacement of damaged materials is one of the most important causes of severe human diseases and of great economic losses all over the world. The project is focused on the development of new photocatalytic coating materials for technical textiles and architectural finishing systems that can be used to decompose pollutants in the air and on the coated surfaces in order to maintain a clean and healthy environment and avoid economic loses. The objective of the project is to obtain stable, adherent, efficient and durable daylight photocatalytic self cleaning coatings for different types of substrates, such as flexible technical textiles and rigid construction structures. To accomplish the objective, issues that require skills in various fields are to be addressed, in view of: scientific research for designing new photocatalysts, innovation activity for the improvement of their efficiency by extending absorption in the visible range of the spectrum, and technological development in order to obtain photocatalytic coatings dedicated to a particular type of substrate. All these issues will be solved due to a multidisciplinary partnership formed of high rank specialists in materials physics, laser physics, physical-chemistry, polymer chemistry, dyestuffs chemistry, and chemistry of textile materials, constantly having in mind obtaining safety products and technologies and achieving economic advantages from the production stage up to the application by the end-users.The method used for the synthesis of semiconductor materials is a key factor that determines their efficiency, the main reason for developing comparative studies regarding the most important oxide type photocatalysts used in practice (TiO2 and ZnO) that could be obtained and doped by wet methods (hydrothermal,sol-gel) or by laser pyrolysis route. Investigations developed in the project comprise also sensitizing the photocatalysts at the surface or by obtaining composites in order to use more efficient visible light in the photocatalytic decomposition of pollutants. Thus, we aim to develop new and optimized photocatalytically materials exhibiting activity upon visible light with surface characteristics of improved performance and of the high chemical and physical stability, crucial for broader scale utilization of photocatalytic systems in commercial application. However, another important challenge will be to obtain film building materials containing photocatalysts specially designed for coating technical textiles or for architectural coatings. Technologies regarding photocatalytic coatings developed in the project present several barriers that can be lifted by carrying out this project. The photocatalytic coatings that will be obtained will be compatible with the substrates, protect them to self-degradation and maintain their initial physical-mechanical characteristics, presenting high photocatalytic efficiency in visible light and durability. The newly developed photocatalytic coatings during the project will decompose air pollutants and other contaminants in outdoor and indoor applications using sunlight or artificial light, especially after expanding widespread use of LEDs for interior or exterior lighting of buildings, tunnels, advertising materials, thus making possible an enhancement of the photocatalytic effect and thus providing significant benefits for the environment and human health. Photocatalytic materials obtained in project together with the development of technically applicable photocatalytic coating systems adaptable to different types of substrates will represent a step change in this field particularly regarding the economic viability of a range of potential processes.

Thermosensitive energy saving systems with tailored solar reflecting/absorbing properties for construction structures Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1391 2012 - 2016

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (RO); CHIMCOLOR S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO)

Project website: http://www.thermosolar.roit.ro

Abstract:

In principle thermochromic and thermotropic systems can function as energy saving systems. For high temperatures, during summertime thermochromic coatings have the ability to reflect solar energy, reducing the surface’s temperature; while in wintertime absorb solar energy, increasing the surface’s temperature as reversible color change takes place. Applied thus on external building surfaces, they have the potential for the reduction of heating and cooling loads, contributing to the reduction of urban temperatures, fight heat island and reduce air pollution.

Color-changing compounds have become increasingly important in recent years in the study and the production of thermochromic coatings that is coatings which respond thermally to their environment, changing reversibly their color from darker to lighter tones as temperature rises. The novelty comes from the use concomitant of thermotropic hydrogels which respond thermally by changing transparency from total transparent to translucent. Combining these features of termotropic hydrogels and thermochromic dyes we can obtain complex thermosensitive systems that respond to an increase in temperature by switching the color hypsochromically while accompanied by a change in transparency of the hydrogels.

During the project we intend to develop thermosensitive energy saving coatings that action on the entire Vis-NIR range and are most typically applied to roofs but additionally can also be applied to exterior and interior walls in much the same way. Thermosensitive coatings that will aim to obtain change reflectivity and color as a function of temperature, present enhanced weathering and durability and may be in any suitable formulation for application on roofs or walls such as water-based, oil-based, epoxy-based or acrylic-based formulations.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects