DECONTAMINATING AND ELECTROCHROMIC POLYMER COATING FILM

Abstract

Polymeric film of a semi rigid nature and with low opacity that contributes to environmental detoxification through the inclusion of titanium dioxide particles. It features photocatalytic properties within the range of visible light. The film permits the coating of surfaces such as windows by adhering to them and is thus easily removable. Versions in which the film includes at least one layer with electrochromic properties have been developed. It is intended for the chemicals and construction sectors.

Claims

1. A coating film for environmental detoxification characterized by being a removable film of a semi rigid nature and with low opacity, consisting of at least two layers, where the first layer is exposed to the environment to be detoxified and presents photocatalytic properties within the range of visible light being composed of TiO.sub.2 in anatase phase, with a particle size ranging from 10 to 100 nm, which is activated by doping metallic elements such as Fe.sup.3+, Mo.sup.5+, Os.sup.3+, Ru.sup.3+, V.sup.4+ at levels ranging from 0.1% to 1%; doping takes places through conventional methods such as Sol-gel, ammonialysis or PLD; the deposition of the TiO.sub.2 on the next layer takes places through conventional means, such as sintering, dip-coating, spin-coating, sputtering or spraying; a second layer acting as structural support and containing titanium dioxide in film form or disperse within the layer; the constituent material features transparency and flexibility and conventional plastics, such as PMMA, PET, PEDOT or PANI may be used; the thickness of this second layer ranges between 100 and 800 microns; its other side can be attached to the element to be coated through the electrostatic attraction forces existing between the structural support and the element to be coated or through the use of conventional adhesive substances.

2. The coating film according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the doping of titanium dioxide takes place through the use of colouring substances such as Rose Bengal, chlorophyll, porphyrins or phthalocyanins.

3. The coating film according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the doping of titanium dioxide takes place through the use of Nitrogen to reduce its band gap.

4. The coating film according to claims 1 to 3 characterized by featuring means to limit or prevent the passing of light radiation into the building to be coated without obstructing the normal functioning of the detoxifying film due to the inclusion of at least 5 layers behind the structural support of titanium dioxide, which constitute a conventional electrochromic film; comprising a layer that acts as activation electrode and features optic transparency through the inclusion of oxides such as ITO, SnO3-F or polymers such as PEDT/PSS; a layer formed by an electrochromic polymer (4) opting for those based on polythiofenes such as PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)), PProDOT-Me2 (poly (3,4-propilenedioxythiophene) or those based on polyanillines such as PoAnis-TSA (poly o-Methoxyaniline) doped with p-Toluenesulfonic acid to carry out redox reactions; a layer formed by an ionic liquid responsible for charge transport, made of Lithium salts, such as LiClO4, or electrolyte polymers such as PVDF, PEO or PMMA, containing Lithium ions; a layer acting as second electrode, of a nature similar to the first electrode; a supporting layer whose constituent material features transparency and flexibility; conventional plastics, such as PMMA, PET, PEDOT or PANI may be used; the thickness of this layer ranges between 100 and 800 microns and it can be attached to the element to be coated through electrostatic attraction forces between the structural support and the element to be coated or through the use of conventional adhesive substances.

5. The coating film according to claim 1 characterized by featuring an additional layer made of an electrochromic polymer; this layer is similar to the layer of the first polymer making up the film and is made of polymers that are complementary to the aforementioned polymers, i.e. if one polymer is transparent in oxidized state, the other one shall be transparent in reduced state; conventionally used complementary polymers, such as Poly (ET2), PBEDOT-N-MeCz (poly (3,6-bis[2-(3,4-ethylenedioxy)thienyl]- -N-methylcarbazole) or Poly (NNDMBP) may be used.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to better understand the concepts described in this application, drawings are attached, as examples only, representing the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows: [0017] (1) Titanium dioxide coating [0018] (2) Protecting support

[0019] FIG. 2 shows: [0020] (1) Titanium dioxide coating [0021] (2) Protecting support [0022] (3) Electrode [0023] (4) Electrochromic polymer [0024] (5) Ionic liquid [0025] (6) Electrode [0026] (7) Protecting support

[0027] FIG. 3 shows: [0028] (1) Titanium dioxide coating [0029] (2) Protecting support [0030] (3) Electrode [0031] (4) Electrochromic polymer [0032] (5) Ionic liquid [0033] (8) Electrochromic polymer [0034] (6) Electrode [0035] (7) Protecting support

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] The preferred embodiment is described as follows by way of example, with the materials to be used for manufacture of the electrochromic and antipollution polymeric coating film being independent to the object of the invention, as are the methods of application and all accessory details that arise, provided that they do not affect the essentials of the invention.

[0037] The polymeric film described in this preferred embodiment is made up of seven layers:

[0038] The first layer, responsible for detoxifying the environment (1), features photocatalytic properties within the range of visible light, being composed of TiO.sub.2 in anatase phase, with a particle size ranging from 10 to 100 nm, which is activated by doping metallic elements such as Fe3+, Mo5+, Os3+, Ru3+, V4+ at levels ranging from 0.1% to 1%.

[0039] This doping takes places through conventional methods such as Sol-gel, ammonialysis or PLD. The deposition of the TiO.sub.2 layer on the next layer takes places through conventional means, such as sintering, dip-coating, spin-coating, sputtering or spraying.

[0040] A second layer (2) acting as structural support and containing titanium dioxide in film form or disperse within the layer. The constituent material features transparency and flexibility and conventional plastics, such as PMMA, PET, PEDOT or PANI may be used. The thickness of this second layer ranges between 100 and 800 microns.

[0041] The film includes means to prevent or limit the passing of solar radiation without preventing the normal functioning of the detoxifying film. This particularity allows the film to act as a blind without blocking the photocatalytic layer, since the electrochromic layers are located behind it, which is not the case for glasses treated during production. These means comprise:

[0042] A layer that acts as activation electrode (3) and features optic transparency through the inclusion of oxides such as ITO, SnO3-F or polymers such as PEDT/PSS.

[0043] A layer formed by an electrochromic polymer (4) opting for those based on polythiofenes such as PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)), PProDOT-Me2 (poly (3,4-propilenedioxythiophene) or those based on polyanillines such as PoAnis-TSA (poly o-Methoxyaniline) doped with p-Toluenesulfonic acid to carry out redox reactions.

[0044] A layer formed by an ionic liquid (5) responsible for charge transport, made of Lithium salts, such as LiClO4, or electrolyte polymers such as PVDF, PEO or PMMA, containing Lithium ions.

[0045] A layer acting as second electrode (6) of a nature similar to the first electrode.

[0046] A supporting layer (7) whose constituent material features transparency and flexibility; conventional plastics, such as PMMA, PET, PEDOT or PANI may be used. The thickness of this layer ranges between 100 and 800 microns and it can be attached to the element to be coated through the electrostatic attraction forces existing between the structural support and the element to be coated or through the use of conventional adhesive substances.

[0047] The film features a conventional power source and control system for the operation of the electrochromic set.