Abstract: In a formulation comprising titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst and an amphoteric metal oxide (alumina or the like) or a basic metal oxide (barium oxide, strontium oxide or the like) as a material having a base point, when a nitrogen oxide (nitrogen monoxide) comes into contact with or approaches titanium dioxide, upon exposed to light, the carbon monoxide is oxidized to nitrogen dioxide (gas) by hydroxy radicals as an active oxygen species produced by titanium dioxide. As is apparent from the molecular structure, nitrogen dioxide is an acidic gas, alumina is an amphoteric metal oxide, and barium oxide and strontium oxide are a basic metal oxide. The oxygen atom thereof serves as a base point to an acid gas. Therefore, nitrogen dioxide is attracted and chemically bonded to the oxygen atom, held on the metal oxide, and kept close to titanium dioxide as the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A composite material includes a substrate and a self-cleanable hydrophilic surface layer. The surface layer includes a plurality of components: a first component having a photocatalyst which functions as a catalyst upon exposure to light; a second component having one or more of aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, strontium oxide, barium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, rubidium oxide, sodium oxide, potassium oxide and phosphorus pentoxide; and a third component having one or more of silicon dioxide, zirconium dioxide, germanium dioxide and thorium dioxide. The first through third components are all situated within the surface layer, which is provided as a single surface layer, such that all of the components are in close proximity to one another within the single surface layer.

Abstract: In a formulation comprising titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst and an amphoteric metal oxide (alumina or the like) or a basic metal oxide (barium oxide, strontium oxide or the like) as a material having a base point, when a nitrogen oxide (nitrogen monoxide) comes into contact with or approaches titanium dioxide, upon exposed to light, the carbon monoxide is oxidized to nitrogen dioxide (gas) by hydroxy radicals as an active oxygen species produced by titanium dioxide. As is apparent from the molecular structure, nitrogen dioxide is an acidic gas, alumina is an amphoteric metal oxide, and barium oxide and strontium oxide are a basic metal oxide. The oxygen atom thereof serves as a base point to an acid gas. Therefore, nitrogen dioxide is attracted and chemically bonded to the oxygen atom, held on the metal oxide, and kept close to titanium dioxide as the photocatalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed are antifouling material possessing excellent surface antifouling properties, particularly excellent antifouling activity against greasy stains and soils, a process for producing the same, and a coating composition and an apparatus for the antifouling material. The antifouling material comprises: a substrate; and an inorganic layer consisting essentially of an amorphous metal oxide, the inorganic layer containing an alkali metal and non-bridging oxygen in an amount effective in removing contaminants, derived from an exhaust gas, adhered on the surface of the inorganic layer by cleaning using running water alone to restore the diffuse reflectance of the surface of the inorganic layer to not less than 75% of the initial diffuse reflectance, the inorganic layer constituting the outermost fixed layer of the antifouling material.

Abstract: In a formulation comprising titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst and an amphoteric metal oxide (alumina or the like) or a basic metal oxide (barium oxide, strontium oxide or the like) as a material having a base point, when a nitrogen oxide (nitrogen monoxide) comes into contact with or approaches titanium dioxide, upon exposed to light, the carbon monoxide is oxidized to nitrogen dioxide (gas) by hydroxy radicals as an active oxygen species produced by titanium dioxide. As is apparent from the molecular structure, nitrogen dioxide is an acidic gas, alumina is an amphoteric metal oxide, and barium oxide and strontium oxide are a basic metal oxide. The oxygen atom thereof serves as a base point to an acid gas. Therefore, nitrogen dioxide is attracted and chemically bonded to the oxygen atom, held on the metal oxide, and kept close to titanium dioxide as the photocatalyst.