Utilization of mica for the improvement of UV blocking property and photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Mica is a sheet-structured silicate mineral and has been used for many industries because of its excellent properties such as electrical insulation and thermal stability. In this research, titania was deposited on the surface of exfoliated mica with a water based solution and the quantity of titania deposition on the mica increased by pre-coating of polydopamine. The paint mixed with fabricated composite showed 20% higher photocatalytic activity than the original one. Also, mica is known for blocking ultraviolet light. To maximize it, mica was exfoliated and applied to chemicals with UV absorbing property common in sunscreens. They are ethylhexylsalicylate, octylmethoxycinnamate, and para-aminobenzoic acid which also act as photocatalyst. In addition, due to the characteristic of the mica that blocks the UV light by scattering, the energy of the light effectively transferred to the photocatalyst and the performance of photocatalytic activity was increased up to 30%.