Multi-functional material with photocalytic functions and method of manufacturing same

A multi-functional material exhibiting a photocatalytic function, comprising:

• a base and a photocatalytic layer having a photocatalytic function and disposed on a surface of said base;
• said photocatalytic layer including at least a surface layer exposed outwardly;
• said surface layer comprising fine photocatalytic particles intimately joined together in abutting relationship such that pores are defined therebetween at a predetermined porosity;
• said photocatalytic layer being disposed on the surface of said base through a binder layer interposed therebetween;
• said photocatalytic layer including a surface layer exposed outwardly and a lower layer embedded in said binder layer;
• said multi-functional material being a multi-functional glass;
• said base being made of soda glass;
• and
• said binder layer being made of silica.

A multi-functional material exhibiting a photocatalytic function, comprising:

• a base and a photocatalytic layer having a photocatalytic function and disposed on a surface of said base;
• said photocatalytic layer including at least a surface layer exposed outwardly;
• said surface layer comprising fine photocatalytic particles intimately joined together in abutting relationship such that pores are defined therebetween at a predetermined porosity;
• said photocatalytic layer being disposed on the surface of said base through a binder layer interposed therebetween;
• said photocatalytic layer including a surface layer exposed outwardly and a lower layer embedded in said binder layer;
• said multi-functional material being a multi-functional glass;
• said multi-functional material being a multi-functional glass;
• and
• said photocatalytic layer being produced by hydrolyzing titanium alkoxide to obtain titanium hydroxide, dehydrolyzing and condensing the titanium hydroxide, and further crystallizing the titanium hydroxide.

A method of manufacturing a multi-functional material exhibiting a photocatalytic function, comprising the steps of:

• forming a photocatalytic layer of photocatalytic particles on a substantially planar binder layer of thermoplastic material;
• placing or applying said substantially planar binder layer to a surface of a base;
• thereafter softening said binder layer to embed a portion of a lower layer of the photocatalytic layer in the binder layer;
• and solidifying said binder layer;
• said binder layer having a softening temperature lower than a softening temperature of said base, and said step of softening the binder layer involves heating the binder layer at an atmospheric temperature which is higher than the softening temperature of said binder layer by X, where 20.degree.<X<320.degree. C., and lower than the softening temperature of said base.

A method of manufacturing a multi-functional material exhibiting a photocatalytic function, comprising the steps of:

• dispersing a sol, a precursor, or a suspension of photocatalytic particles in a solution with a dispersant to form a dispersion, forming a photocatalytic layer of the photocatalytic particles using the dispersion on a substantially planar binder layer of thermoplastic material;
• placing or applying said substantially planar binder layer to a surface of a base;
• thereafter softening the binder layer to embed a portion of a lower layer of the photocatalytic layer in the binder layer;
• and solidifying the binder layer;
• said dispersant consisting of a component which is vaporized at a temperature lower than a heat-treatment temperature at which said binder layer is softened.

A method of manufacturing a multi-functional material exhibiting a photocatalytic function, comprising the steps of:

• forming a photocatalytic layer of photocatalytic particles on a substantially planar binder layer of thermoplastic material;
• placing or applying said substantially planar binder layer to a surface of a base;
• thereafter softening said binder layer to embed a portion of a lower layer of the photocatalytic layer in the binder layer, and solidifying said binder layer;
• said photocatalytic particles and said binder layer having respective specific gravities .delta.t, .delta.b which satisfy the relationship:
• 0.ltoreq..delta.t-.delta.b.ltoreq.3.0.