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This paper introduced the simple synthesis process of self-cleaning coating with fog-resistance property using hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer and nano-calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO₃) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂).

The synthesis method of PDMS/nano-CaCO₃-TiO₂ is based on sol-gel process. The crosslinking between PDMS and nanoparticles is driven by the covalent bond at temperature of 50°C. The 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane is used as binder for nanoparticles attachment in polymer matrix. Two fabrication methods are used, which are dip- and spray-coating methods.

The prepared coated glass fulfilled the requirement of standard self-cleaning and fog-resistance performance. For the self-cleaning test BS EN 1096-5:2016, the coated glasses exhibited the dust haze value around 20%–25% at tilt angle of 10°. For the antifog test, the coated glasses showed the fog haze value were below 2% and the gloss value were above 85%. The obtained results completely achieved the standard antifog value ASTM F659-06 protocol.

Findings will provide an infrastructure support for the building glass to enhance building’s energy efficiency, cleaning performance and friendly environment.

This study proposed the simple synthesis method using hydrophobic polymer and nano-CaCO₃ and nano-TiO₂, which can achieve optimum self-cleaning property at low tilt angle and fog-resistance performance for building glass.

The research findings have high potential for building company, cleaning building company and government sector. The proposed project capable to reduces the energy consumption about 20% per annum due to labor cost, time-consuming and safety during manual cleaning.

The novel method to develop self-cleaning coating with fog-resistance using simple synthesis process and fabrication method for building glass application.

This paper aims to design the nano-titanium dioxide (TiO₂) coating system which has superhydrophilic property, self-cleaning mechanism and antifog property as well as strong adhesion on glass substrate.

Two hydrophilic materials have been used such as TiO₂ nanoparticles as fillers and hydrophilic copolymer, Pluronic F-127 by using simple sol–gel approach. The prepared solution was applied onto glass through dip- and spray-coating techniques and then left for drying at ambient temperature.

The nano-TiO₂ superhydrophilic coating has achieved the water contact angle of 4.9° ± 0.5°. The superhydrophilic coating showed great self-cleaning effect against concentrated syrup and methylene blue where thin layer of water washes the dirt contaminants away. The nano-TiO₂ coating exhibits great antifog performance that maintains high transparency of around 89% when the coated glass is placed above hot-fog vapor for 10 min. The fog droplets were condensed into water film which allowed the transmission of light through the glass. The strong adhesion of coated glass shows no total failure at scratch profile when impacted with scratch load of 500, 800 and 1,200 mN.

Findings will be useful in the development of self-cleaning superhydrophilic coating that is applicable on building glass and photovoltaic panel.

The developed nano-TiO₂ coating is developed by the combination of hydrophilic organic copolymer–inorganic TiO₂ network to achieve great superhydrophilic property, optimum self-cleaning ability and supreme antifog performance.

The findings will be useful for residents in building glass window where the application will reduce dust accumulation and keep the glass clean for longer period.

The synthesis of nano-TiO₂ superhydrophilic coating which can be sprayed on large glass panel and cured at ambient temperature.

The paper aims to investigate the effect of Degussa P-25 Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles on hydrophobicity and self-cleaning ability as a single organic coating on glass substrate.

Two methods have been used to enhance the hydrophobicity on glass substrates, namely, surface modification by using low surface energy isooctyltrimethoxysilane (ITMS) solution and construction of rough surface morphology using Degussa P-25 TiO₂ nanoparticles with simple bottom-up approach. The prepared sol was applied onto glass substrate using dip-coating technique and stoved in the vacuum furnace 350°C.

The ITMS coating with nano TiO₂ pigment has modified the glass substrate surface by achieving the water contact angle as high as 169° ± 2° and low sliding angle of 0° with simple and low-cost operation. The solid and air phase interface has created excellent anti-dirt and self-cleaning properties against dilute ketchup solution, mud and silicon powder.

Findings will be useful in the development of self-cleaning and anti-dirt coating for photovoltaic panels.

Sol method provides the suitable medium for the combination of organic–inorganic network to achieve high superhydrophobicity and optimum self-cleaning ability.

Application of blended organic–inorganic sol as self-cleaning and anti-dirt coating film.

The paper aims to design the optimum formulation of the nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) hydrophilic coating system using the synthetic polypropylene glycol (PPG), which can create the reflection and absorption property.

TiO2 nanoparticles are used as fillers, and PPG has been blended at the proper ratio of 1PPG: 0.2TiO2. The prepared resin has been applied onto the glass substrate at different numbers of glass immersions during the dip-coating fabrication process. One-time glass immersion is labeled as T1 coating, two-time glass immersion is labeled as T2 coating and three-time glass immersion is labeled as T3 coating. All the prepared coating systems were left dry at ambient temperature.

T3 coating showed the lowest reading of WCA value at 40.50°, due to higher surface energy at 61.73 mN/m. The T3 coating also shows the greatest absorbance property among the prepared coating systems among the prepared coating. In terms of reflectance property, the T2 coating system has great reflectance in UV region and near-infrared region, which is 16.47% and 2.77 and 2.73%, respectively. The T2 coating also has great optical transmission about 75.00% at the visible region.

The development of thermal insulation coating by studying the relationship between convection heat and reflectance at different wavelengths of incident light.

The developed coating shows high potential for glass window application.

The application of the hydrophilic coating on light absorption, reflectance and transmission at different wavelengths.

Nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) coatings can potentially address the current surge in façade cleaning cost, maintenance and labour problems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate potential maintainability issues and design challenges concerning the effective performance of TiO₂ façade coatings’ hydrophilic properties, especially in tropical environments such as Singapore. This paper aims to establish a list of green maintainability design criteria to help minimise future TiO₂ façade coating issues when this coating is applied on commercial buildings with concrete and stonemasonry façade materials.

A mixed-mode approach that includes a literature review, site investigation, instrumental case studies and expert interviews is used in this study.

TiO₂ coatings help improve façade performance whilst offering environmental benefits to society. This study reports that green maintainability design criteria are vital requirements in designing sustainable buildings at the outset. The identified defects and issues will aid in ensuring the effectiveness of TiO₂ application in building façades.

This study acts as a foundation for future researchers to strengthen this little researched area, serves as a useful guide in preventing possible TiO₂ coating issues and promotes industry awareness of the use of TiO₂ façade coatings.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the possibility of cross-linking silk fabric using citric acid (CA) as the cross-linking agent and nano-TiO2 (NTO) particles as a catalyst at low temperature and under UV irradiation. This paper also assesses the possibility of treated samples with suitable combinations of CA and NTO to impart multiple functional properties such as self-cleaning and antimicrobial properties.

In this research, ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) grafted onto silk fabric using CA as a crosslinking agent and NTO particles as a catalyst through a pad-dry-cure technique and with UVA irradiation. The effects of different concentrations of CA, ß-CD and NTO particles on some properties of the treated samples are evaluated, and the optimum finishing conditions are obtained. The author also investigated the washing durability of the modified product after ten times of washing.

The results showed that CA plays the role of a linking agent through an esterification reaction with the hydroxyl groups of both ß-CD and silk fabrics and improves the durability of materials on the textile surface. Also, the silk fabrics treated with CA only were found to have excellent photocatalytic properties and better antibacterial activity than the control sample and the fabrics treated with a mixture of ß-CD/CA.

This study was conducted to achieve multiple functions such as antibacterial and photocatalytic activities, good dry crease recovery angle and wet crease recovery angle behavior without a significant adverse effect on the Yellowness index and tensile properties for treated silk fabrics.

The self-cleaning properties of nanostructured titanium dioxide facade coatings are useful in Singapore's tropical climate. However, its potential maintenance issues need to be determined right at the design stage. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the development of the design for maintainability tool which is a multicriteria design decision score sheet that evaluates the maintainability potential of nano-facade coating applications on high-rise façades with concrete and stonemasonry finishes and curtain walls.

Quantitative methods (expert and practitioner surveys) are conducted in this research study. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and sensitivity analysis were used to develop a robust Design for Maintainability tool.

Safety measures indicator received the highest weighted score by experts, while the maximizing performance, minimizing risk, minimizing negative environmental impact and minimizing consumption of matter and energy were the top ranking main criteria by both experts and practitioners. The top ranked design for maintainability sub-criteria identified by practitioners and experts were risk management, maintenance considerations, climatic conditions, safety measures, lifecycle cost and maintenance access, sun's path, rainfall intensity, biological growth measures and building age profile.

Most researches on the maintainability of nano-façade coatings uses experimentation to test the durability of nano-façade coatings, while this study focuses on design based empirical data such as establishing and ranking the list of design for maintainability criteria or indicators to minimize future defects and maintenance issues. The design for maintainability tool contributes to the maintainability of nano-façade coatings leading to maximizing its performance while minimizing cost, risks, resource consumption and negative environmental impact.

The achievement of sustainable architectures, including control of energy relations between climate and built environment, in order to optimize energy consumption and reduce environmental impact, requires an integrated planning dealing with a multi‐scale and integral view of building‐plant system. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of a multifunctional complex, namely “Solaria”.

The proposed integrated approach focuses on comfort and healthy living, sustainability of building process, containment of energy consumption and use of renewable energy sources. The building object of this research has been designed including: a high‐efficiency tri‐generation plant (525kW of electric power) coupled with a distribution network for district heating/cooling; a photovoltaic generation system with 20kW of peak power and solar thermal panels for sanitary hot water production (able to supply over 50 per cent of needs); and passive solar systems (solar greenhouses and “heat cushions”) equipped with sliding brise‐soleils.

The proposed integrated design approach has enabled the achievement of important results, such as the avoidance of CO₂ emissions, equal to nearly 500 tons per year. Moreover, energetic and environmental‐achievements have been certified by using various methodologies. Finally, environmental and costs analyses have been carried out in order to compare the proposed approach with traditional ones.

The case study proposed in this research represents a repeatable and practical application of European Directives on the energy performance of buildings (2002/91/EC) and energy end‐use efficiency and energy services (2006/32/EC). As a consequence, this research adds to the current body of knowledge.

The first‐ever Millennium Technology Prize has been awarded to Tim Berners‐Lee for the invention of the WWW service on the Internet. He was unanimously selected as the winner of the 2004 prize, which is presented by the Finnish Technology Award Foundation, ahead of 78 nominated innovators from 22 countries. The honor, which is accompanied by one €1,000,000, is bestowed as an international acknowledgement of outstanding technological innovation that directly promotes people’s quality of life, is based on humane values, and encourages sustainable economic development. According to the award board, this is just like a definition of the World Wide Web!