Photocatalytic functional material and method for producing the same

Abstract

A photocatalytic functional material having an excellent photocatalytic activity even by a low temperature heat treatment and having a high mechanical strength of the surface. The photocatalytic functional material of the present invention comprises a surface layer (a photocatalytic functional layer) containing a photocatalyst, an electron trapping metal and a photodegradation-resistant matrix. Though the major proportion of the photocatalyst (TiO2 particles, and the like) in the photocatalytic functional layer are covered with the photodegradation-resistant matrix (a thermosetting resin, and the like), the electron-trapping metal effectively traps the electrons generated by the photocatalytic reaction, retains positive holes and generates active oxygen species, so that the photocatalytic function such as deodorant and antimicrobial activities can be fully exhibited.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.