Substrate, Such as a Glass Substrate, Bearing a Layer with Photocatalytic Properties Which has Been Modified to Absorb Photons in the Visible Spectrum
First Claim
1. A method of modifying a film with a photocatalytic antisoiling property, based on titanium dioxide (TiO2), capable of absorbing photons in the UV, particularly UVA, region, so as to make it also capable of absorbing photons in the visible, said TiO2-based film being applied to a substrate either directly or with interposition of at least one functional subfilm, comprising subjecting said TiO2-based film to a heat treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere or an atmosphere containing nitrogen and at least one reducing gas, for a period of time sufficient to obtain the desired property of absorbing photons in the visible, said substrate and where appropriate said subfilm(s) having been chosen so as to be capable of withstanding said heat treatment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of modifying a layer having photocatalytic and anti-fouling properties which is based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) and which can absorb photons in the UV region and, in particular, in the UVA region, in order to render same capable of absorbing photons in the visible spectrum, said TiO2-based layer being applied to a substrate either directly or with the insertion of at least one functional sub-layer. The invention is characterised in that the TiO2-based layer is subjected to a heat treatment in an atmosphere comprising nitrogen or nitrogen and at least one reducing gas for a sufficient period of time in order to obtain the desired visible photon absorption property, said substrate and, if necessary, said sub-layer(s) having been selected for their ability to withstand the heat treatment.
25 Citations
26 Claims
- 1. A method of modifying a film with a photocatalytic antisoiling property, based on titanium dioxide (TiO2), capable of absorbing photons in the UV, particularly UVA, region, so as to make it also capable of absorbing photons in the visible, said TiO2-based film being applied to a substrate either directly or with interposition of at least one functional subfilm, comprising subjecting said TiO2-based film to a heat treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere or an atmosphere containing nitrogen and at least one reducing gas, for a period of time sufficient to obtain the desired property of absorbing photons in the visible, said substrate and where appropriate said subfilm(s) having been chosen so as to be capable of withstanding said heat treatment.
- 10. A process for manufacturing a substrate, especially a glass substrate, bearing on at least part of at least one of its faces, a film having a photocatalytic antisoiling property, based on titanium dioxide (TiO2), which has been applied to the substrate either directly, or with interposition of at least one functional subfilm, comprising heat treating the substrate bearing said TiO2-based film in a nitrogen atmosphere or an atmosphere containing nitrogen and at least one reducing gas for a period of time sufficient to make the TiO2-based film, which is naturally capable of absorbing photons in the UV region, also capable of absorbing photons in the visible and/or to enhance the photocatalytic property of said TiO2-based film.
Specification