Photocatalytic TiO₂ coatings on limestone

The application of photocatalytic coatings on stone has been investigated for providing surface protection and self-cleaning properties. Sol–Gel and hydrothermal processes were used to synthesise TiO₂ colloidal suspensions and coatings with enhanced photocatalytic activity without any thermal curing of the coated stone. The stone was a porous limestone (apulian sedimentary carbonatic, calcite stone). Films and powders prepared from TiO₂ sols were studied using X-ray diffraction to evaluate the microstructure and identify rutile and anatase phases. A morphological and physical characterisation was carried out on coated and uncoated stone to establish the changes of appearance, colour, water absorption by capillarity and water vapour permeability. The photocatalytic activity of the coated surface was evaluated under UV irradiation through NO _x and organics degradation tests. The performances of the synthesised TiO₂ sols were compared with commercial TiO₂ suspension. Since the coating doesn’t need temperature treatments for activating the photocatalytic properties, the nano-crystalline hydrothermal TiO₂ sols seem good candidate for coating applications on stone that cannot be annealed after the coating application.