HOW IT WORKS

Photocatalytic Splitting of Water
Source: Paul Kent, Oak Ridge Nuclear Labs

In the most basic of terms, OxiTitan is an electrostatic trap for microbes and Volatile Organic Compounds at a molecular level, completing their destruction through photocatalytic oxidation. In addition to the antimicrobial effect of nanoscale zinc in light or dark, OxiTitan uses the energy of light on the composite catalyst nanocrystals to create electrical activity at the atomic level. The positive charge of OxiTitan attracts, traps, and then completely photo-mineralizes the negatively charged virus, bacteria, mold, fungi, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on treated surfaces.

In the presence of light and water vapor, our composite photocatalyst, nanoparticle sized zinc in a matrix of nano-crystalline titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide, produces two highly reactive substances: hydroxyl radicals (OH) and a superoxide anion (O2- or ‘singlet oxygen’). Hydroxyl radicals are a more powerful oxidizer than even chlorine, ozone or hydrogen peroxide. Singlet oxygen is likewise a reactive form of oxygen (Reactive Oxygen Species) that is highly toxic to any bacteria. They act as extremely powerful microbe killing agents by damaging critical molecular structures, resulting in the death of the micro-organism. The continuous oxidation mineralizes all remaining germ cell contents.

The ultimate result of the oxidation of toxic organic matter and the breaking of molecular bonds of airborne chemicals and VOCs is harmless CO² and water. OxiTitan’s photocatalytic process occurs repeatedly, with no loss of strength, working in a wide range of temperature and humidity, both indoors and out, in any light. The constantly forming oxidizers are safe because their short life keeps them only on the immediate surface, not in the air, and recombine back to ambient water.

In addition to the photocatalytic oxidation, the huge surface area of the carefully engineered nano crystals electro-statically attract and trap the bacteria, viruses and VOCs to the OxiTitan coated surface, resulting in significant microbe death and decomposition in contact with the antimicrobial zinc. OxiTitan coatings are extremely durable as well due to its strong molecular bonding to the substrate.

OxiTitan is engineered from the absolutely smallest size of zinc, titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide particles to maximize their unique properties. OxiTitan composite molecules average just 7 nanometers in size, about a tenth of the size of the average bacterium. While almost unimaginably small, the remarkable effectiveness of nanoparticles lies in its huge surface area. Surface area is significant because most chemical reactions involving solids occur at the surface level. A cubic centimeter of material, about the size of a sugar cube, has the same surface area of a half a stick of gum. But if you fill that cube with 1 nanometer sized particles, the surface area of all those particles is an astonishing 6,000 square meters. At nearly 7,200 square yards, that is approximately the surface area of 3 football fields!

OxiTitan is so effective that only 1 liter of the ready-to-use coating can cover 1,500 square feet of surface with electrostatic spraying.

OxiTitan uses only safe mineral ingredients with no toxic chemicals or eco-pollutants. It is completely safe for humans and animals, is totally bio-degradable and will not harm the environment. OxiTitan has the highest performance yet achieved in natural sunlight making it the optimal choice for any exterior surface. The innovative breakthrough of OxiTitan is that for the first time, a photocatalytic coating is effective against pathogens in interior spaces where only artificial lighting is available.

Patent Pending OxiTitan uses an advanced engineered crystal structure that “red-shifts” the photocatalytic response. OxiTitan’s unique ability to respond to light in the visible light spectrum (up to 500 nm wavelength) is key for interior antimicrobial and indoor air quality applications. Prior photocatalysts were effective only with ultraviolet light (UV), either from sunlight or artificial UV source) and therefore were not applicable indoors. This response uplift into the visible light spectrum makes OxiTitan active with typical artificial lighting, as well as natural (sun) light.

OxiTitan is manufactured by our proprietary hydro-synthesis and ion template low temperature crystallization processes to overcome the natural tendency of the nano crystallite to agglomerate (diminishing surface area by sticking together). The nanoparticles are diffuse and stable in a water-based solution, never as a powder, for maximum effectiveness and safety. A thin film of OxiTitan functional coating is essentially transparent, odorless, extremely durable, and does not significantly deteriorate, lasting the life of the substrate in most cases. As a mineral catalyst, there is nothing to wear out or dissipate. Where there is high wear or frequent cleaning with harsh chemicals or abrasion, more frequent application is suggested.

The highly effective broad-spectrum microbial, VOC, and odor removal benefits of OxiTitan are the same for exterior or interior applications. Importantly, since bacteria and viruses are naturally short-lived in sunlight, it is OxiTitan’s ability to kill microbes indoors, where they proliferate, which is the breakthrough. OxiTitan performs effectively with any light source: incandescent, fluorescent, halogen or natural sunlight.

Clean, clear, safe, smart.