Functional Coatings Comprised of Cellulose NanoCrystals and Metal Oxide Nano Particles.

Using a bio-based multi-functional coatings utilizing Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) with metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), we created a stable, physically robust, optically transparent coatings, attaining Physio-chemical and Thermal properties including: Photocatalytic coatings proving capability to fixate nitrogen from N2 directly to Nitrate under artificial UV light and under natural sunlight. Using an ion Chromatography test we found that a 1118 cm² CNC 2% + P25 (5mg/ml) coated film fixates around 3.7 ppm of No^-3 in 4 hours to a water volume of 80 ml. Focusing on the Photocatalytic profile of titanium dioxide we tested various forms of Tio2 NPs including doped Tio2 which shifts its photocatalytic capability from UV only to full light spectrum providing greater potential in the photocatalytic field.