Photocatalysis is the composite of ‘photo’ (light) and ‘catalysis’, which is the process of a substance accelerating chemical reactions without itself being altered or consumed. Photocatalysis is most commonly seen in photosynthesis: Chlorophyll captures light, and in the presence of water and carbon dioxide, produces oxygen and glucose. LightActive™ captures light and in the presence of water, even atmospheric humidity, creates oxidizers, breaking down organic contamination and volatile organic compounds into water, harmless carbon dioxide and trace elements.
Simply put, photocatalysts mediate chemical reactions and are activated by light energy. In the photo-generated catalysis of LightActive™ reactive coatings, light energy transfers its energy to the metal oxide catalyst to promote conductive electrons, creating powerful reductive action and electron holes, which split water or normal interior humidity to generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). These strong oxidants, hydroxyl (OH) and singlet oxygen (O) radicals, safely mineralize organic molecules of all types and many air pollutants.
LightActive™ is unique in that this cleaning action works even in visible or interior light, in the absence of Ultraviolet (UV) light (<400nm wavelength) as required by conventional photocatalysts. UV light energy is less than 3 % of our sun’s radiated energy and unavailable indoors. LightActive™ utilizes both UV light energy and visible light energy for maximum efficacy. Visible light makes up 44% of the energy supplied by the sun and is typically the only light indoors.
As a catalyst, LightActive™ is not used up or worn out, and sustains the photo-oxidation continuously. LightActive™ does this without change to its own structure and therefore has a long life span limited only by frictional wear of the surface. Our anatase self-assembling transparent film has an extraordinarily high surface area and chemical attraction. The organic challenge is trapped, much like odors are on activated charcoal, and the challenge is then photo-oxidized, so the trapping and reduction can occur continuously.
The high-performance photocatalytic action of LightActive™ is effective against volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in the air, such as nitrous oxides, formaldehyde, ammonia, chlorine and even ethylene (the gas that hastens fruit ripening). LightActive™ diminishes unpleasant smells such as human and pet odors and even acetaldehyde (the ‘tobacco smoke’ smell) and reduces contaminants and pollutants.
LightActive™’s light-energized ability to reduce organic molecules on contact, safely and continuously, makes it one of the most important new tools in the control of surface contamination. The reduction of airborne pollutants including odors caused by VOCs makes our air not only cleaner but healthier.