Methods of forming spinel ferrite nanoparticles containing a chromium-substituted copper ferrite as well as properties (e.g. particle size, crystallite size, pore size, surface area) of these spinel ferrite nanoparticles are described. Methods of preventing or reducing microbe growth on a surface by applying these spinel ferrite nanoparticles onto the surface in the form of a suspension or an antimicrobial product are also described.

Methods of forming spinel ferrite nanoparticles containing a chromium-substituted copper ferrite as well as properties (e.g. particle size, crystallite size, pore size, surface area) of these spinel ferrite nanoparticles are described. Methods of preventing or reducing microbe growth on a surface by applying these spinel ferrite nanoparticles onto the surface in the form of a suspension or an antimicrobial product are also described.

A synthetic polymer film (34A), (34B) having a surface which has a plurality of first raised portions (34Ap), (34Bp), wherein a two-dimensional size of the plurality of first raised portions (34Ap), (34Bp) is in a range of more than 20 nm and less than 500 nm when viewed in a normal direction of the synthetic polymer film (34A), (34B); and the surface has a microbicidal effect.

A synthetic polymer film (34A), (34B) having a surface which has a plurality of first raised portions (34Ap), (34Bp), wherein a two-dimensional size of the plurality of first raised portions (34Ap), (34Bp) is in a range of more than 20 nm and less than 500 nm when viewed in a normal direction of the synthetic polymer film (34A), (34B); and the surface has a microbicidal effect.

A synthetic polymer film (34A), (34B) having a surface which has a plurality of first raised portions (34Ap), (34Bp), wherein a two-dimensional size of the plurality of first raised portions (34Ap), (34Bp) is in a range of more than 20 nm and less than 500 nm when viewed in a normal direction of the synthetic polymer film (34A), (34B); and the surface has a microbicidal effect.

A synthetic polymer film (34A), (34B) having a surface which has a plurality of first raised portions (34Ap), (34Bp), wherein a two-dimensional size of the plurality of first raised portions (34Ap), (34Bp) is in a range of more than 20 nm and less than 500 nm when viewed in a normal direction of the synthetic polymer film (34A), (34B); and the surface has a microbicidal effect.

An antimicrobial paint is disclosed. The antimicrobial paint comprises a carrier fluid, a binder, a sulfonated polymer and optionally at least an additive. The sulfonated polymer is selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones such as polyether sulfone, sulfonated polyketones such as polyether ketone, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof. The sulfonated polymer is sufficiently or selectively sulfonated to contain from 10-100 mol % sulfonic acid or sulfonate salt functional groups based on the number of monomer units, for killing at least 99% of microbes in less than 30 minutes, or in less than 5 minutes of coming into contact with a substrate coated in the antimicrobial paint composition.

An antimicrobial paint is disclosed. The antimicrobial paint comprises a carrier fluid, a binder, a sulfonated polymer and optionally at least an additive. The sulfonated polymer is selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones such as polyether sulfone, sulfonated polyketones such as polyether ketone, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof. The sulfonated polymer is sufficiently or selectively sulfonated to contain from 10-100 mol % sulfonic acid or sulfonate salt functional groups based on the number of monomer units, for killing at least 99% of microbes in less than 30 minutes, or in less than 5 minutes of coming into contact with a substrate coated in the antimicrobial paint composition.

An embodiment provides a method for cleaning a surface, including: encapsulating a cleaning composition in a polymer material to form a compound, wherein the polymer material surrounds the cleaning composition; placing the compound in a location adjacent to the surface, wherein the location adjacent to the surface is a volume separated from an outer volume; dissolving the polymer material at a pH above a target value above the polymer material pH dissolution point, wherein the dissolving releases the cleaning composition; and cleaning the surface using the released cleaning composition. Other aspects are described and claimed.

A functional material has a metal substrate and exhibits at least one of the following: an antimold action, an antimicrobial action, and an antiviral action. The functional material is provided with: a metal substrate produced by forming a zinc layer on the surface of an aluminum substrate; and a functional film that is a zinc phosphate film formed on the surface of the metal substrate. A micron-order unevenness is formed on the surface of the functional film, as a result of which the functional film has at least one of the following: an antimold action that prevents the proliferation of mold, an antimicrobial action that kills microorganisms, and an antiviral action that inactivates viruses. The functional material is produced by carrying out a zinc phosphate chemical conversion treatment on the surface of an aluminum substrate and forming on this surface a zinc phosphate film having micron-order unevenness.