# US 11,439,980 B2 · Contaminant-activated photocatalysis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,980 B2 - Document ID: US11439980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/321,494 - Filed: 2017-07-31 - Published: 2021-03-04 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-29 - Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: Brij M. Moudgil; Vijay Krishna; Benjamin L. Koopman; Wei Bai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439980B2 ## CPC - B01J 21/063: {Titanium; Oxides or hydroxides thereof} - C09D 7/67: {Particle size smaller than 100 nm} - A01N 25/00: Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application {, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application}; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests - A01N 59/16: Heavy metals; Compounds thereof - A61L 2/232: layered or coated - B01J 21/18: Carbon - B01J 35/33: Electric or magnetic properties - B01J 35/39: Photocatalytic properties - B01J 35/393: {Metal or metal oxide crystallite size} - B01J 35/45: Nanoparticles - B01J 37/0219: {the coating containing organic compounds} - B01J 37/0228: {in several steps} - B01J 37/0236: {Drying, e.g. preparing a suspension, adding a soluble salt and drying} - B01J 37/024: {Multiple impregnation or coating} - B01J 37/0244: {Coatings comprising several layers} - B01J 37/343: {of ultrasonic wave energy} - C09D 5/14: Paints containing biocides, e.g. fungicides, insecticides or pesticides (C09D5/16 takes precedence) - C09D 5/32: Radiation-absorbing paints {(protection against X-, gamma- or corpuscular radiation G21F)} - C09D 7/61: inorganic - B01J 2235/00: Indexing scheme associated with group B01J35/00, related to the analysis techniques used to determine the catalysts form or properties - B01J 2235/15: X-ray diffraction - B01J 2235/30: Scanning electron microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy - C08K 3/015: Biocides (macromolecular substances as carriers for biocide material A01N25/10) - C08K 3/042: {Graphene or derivatives, e.g. graphene oxides} - C08K 3/045: {Fullerenes} - C08K 3/22: of metals - C08K 2003/2241: {Titanium dioxide} - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) ## Abstract A visible light photocatalyst coating includes a metal oxide that in the presence of a organic contaminate that absorbs at least some visible light or includes the metal oxide and an auxiliary visible light absorbent, where upon absorption of degradation of the organic contaminate occurs. Contaminates can be microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The metal oxide is nanoparticulate or microparticulate. The metal oxide can be TiO2. The coating can include an auxiliary dye having an absorbance of light in at least a portion of the visible spectrum. The coating can include a suspending agent, such as NaOH. The visible light photocatalyst coating can cover a surface of a device that is commonly handled or touched, such as a door knob, rail, or counter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A visible light photocatalyst coating, comprising: a metal oxide and an auxiliary light absorbent that in the presence of an organic contaminant absorbs at least some visible light, wherein the auxiliary light absorbent is a dye having an absorbance of light in at least a portion of the visible spectrum, wherein the auxiliary light absorbent comprises polyhydroxy fullerene, wherein the metal oxide is a nanoparticle, a microparticle, or a film, and wherein visible light catalyzes degradation of the organic contaminant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is a transition metal oxide, an alkaline earth metal oxide, any combination thereof or a combination thereof with an alkali metal oxide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 2, wherein the transition metal oxide is a oxide of titanium, vanadium, chromium, zinc, tin, cerium, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is TiO2 in the form of anatase, rutile, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide comprises crystallites each having a crystallite size of less than 50 nm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 5, wherein the crystallites each have a crystallite size of less than 10 nm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 1, wherein the visible light photocatalyst coating is transparent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 1, wherein the organic contaminant is a microbe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 8, wherein the microbe is a bacteria, a virus, a fungus, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 9, wherein the bacteria is MRSA. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 1, wherein the organic contaminant is an organic pollutant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A suspension comprising the visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide is a nanoparticle or a microparticle, and wherein the suspension further comprises a liquid medium. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The suspension for applying the visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 12, wherein the metal oxide is a transition metal oxide, an alkaline earth metal oxide, any combination thereof, or a combination of one or more of the transition metal oxide and the alkaline earth metal oxide with one or more alkali metal oxides. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The suspension according to claim 12, wherein the transition metal oxide is a oxide of titanium, vanadium, chromium, zinc, tin, cerium, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The suspension according to claim 12, wherein the metal oxide is TiO2 in the form of anatase, rutile, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The suspension according to claim 12, wherein the liquid medium is water, ethanol, toluene, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The suspension according to claim 12, further comprising a suspending agent. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The suspension coating according to claim 17, wherein the suspending agent is NaOH, Na2CO3, or NaHCO3. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The suspension according to claim 17, wherein the suspending agent is a surfactant or polyethylene glycol. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An antimicrobial device, comprising a solid object coated with a visible light photocatalyst coating according to claim 1. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The antimicrobial device according to claim 20, wherein the solid object comprises wood, metal, plastic, glass, or a painted object. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The antimicrobial device according to claim 20, wherein the solid object is a wall, a rail, a counter, a light switch, a bathroom fixture, or a door knob. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A method of forming an antimicrobial device according to claim 20, the method comprising: applying a suspension comprising a metal oxide, an auxiliary light absorbent that in the presence of an organic contaminant absorbs at least some visible light, and a liquid medium to at least a portion of a surface of the solid object; and evaporating the liquid medium, wherein the auxiliary light absorbent is a dye having an absorbance of light in at least a portion of the visible spectrum, wherein the auxiliary light absorbent comprises polyhydroxy fullerene, and wherein the metal oxide is a nanoparticle or a microparticle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of forming an antimicrobial device according to claim 23, wherein the metal oxide is a transition metal oxide, an alkaline earth metal oxide, any combination thereof, or a combination of one or more of the transition metal oxide and the alkaline earth metal oxide with one or more alkali metal oxides. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of forming an antimicrobial device according to claim 23, wherein the liquid medium is water, ethanol, toluene, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of forming an antimicrobial device according to claim 23, wherein the suspension further comprises a suspending agent. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of forming an antimicrobial device according to claim 26, wherein the suspending agent is NaOH, Na2CO3, or NaHCO3. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of forming an antimicrobial device according to claim 26, wherein the suspending agent is a surfactant or polyethylene glycol. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The method of forming an antimicrobial device according to claim 23, wherein the metal oxide comprises crystallites each having a crystallite size of less than 50 nm. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The method of forming an antimicrobial device according to claim 23, further comprising applying a primer to the solid object, whereby the surface of the solid object is a primed solid surface.