Project:	Materials for Self-Cleaning Coatings
Disciplines:	Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Electrical Engineering
Mentor:	James Hanson, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, (CCE), james.hanson@shu.edu, Phone: 973-761-9036
Mentor URL:	https://www.shu.edu/profiles/jameshanson.html  (opens in new window)
Background:	NOTE: This project is being offered by a Caltech alum and is open only to Caltech students. The project will be conducted at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey (not far from New York City). Self-cleaning coating materials are based on several principles. One is the principle of increased hydrophobicity and increased oleophobicity. Increased "phobicity" causes the coating to shed contaminants from the surface. We achieve this by increasing the roughness using volatile solid inclusions in the coating. Another is the principle of advanced photo-oxidation processes. We achieve this by incorporating photo-catalytic pigments in the coating. These use absorbed light to activate oxygen from air to oxidize contaminants on the surface.
Description:	Students working on this project may address one or more of the principles involved. This may be the development of volatile solid systems, the exploration of the effect of volatile solids on different coating materials, or the preparation and evaluation of photocatalysts. This work will help the student learn techniques such as spectroscopy (IR, NMR, UV-Vis, Fluorescence), surface analysis (contact angle, microscopy), and materials analysis (DSC, TGA, light scattering) and their applications.
References:	DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.9b00273 DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.4c00044 DOI: 10.1021/scimeetings.2c00644
Student Requirements:	General chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical/physical chemistry
Programs:	This AO can be done under the following programs:   Program    Available To        SURF    Caltech students only  Click on a program name for program info and application requirements.