Systems developed for application as self-cleaning surfaces and/or antimicrobial properties: a short review on materials and production methods

Abstract

Abstract Herein we present a short review of different materials and techniques that have been used for the production of surfaces with self-cleaning and/or antimicrobial properties. From this, it was verified that titanium dioxide was the most frequently used compound to obtain surfaces with these properties; however, other materials such as silica, zinc and silver have also been used for this purpose. The spin-coating and dip-coating techniques were the most used techniques, and the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most used in the antimicrobial assays. The analyzed studies showed that it is possible to obtain surfaces with both self-cleaning and/or antimicrobial properties, as well as with photocatalytic activity. Regarding possible applications, it is possible to highlight the interest in the production of glass and medical devices with self-cleaning and/or antimicrobial action.