Development of Photocatalytic 3D-Printed Cementitious Mortars: Influence of the Curing, Spraying Time Gaps and TiO<sub>2</sub> Coating Rates
Behzad Zahabizadeh,
Iran Rocha Segundo,
João Pereira,
Elisabete Freitas,
Aires Camões,
Carlos J. Tavares,
Vasco Teixeira,
Vítor M. C. F. Cunha,
Manuel F. M. Costa,
Joaquim O. Carneiro
Affiliations
Behzad Zahabizadeh
ISISE, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Iran Rocha Segundo
CTAC, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
João Pereira
ISISE, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Elisabete Freitas
ISISE, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Aires Camões
CTAC, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Carlos J. Tavares
Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Azurém Campus, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Vasco Teixeira
Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Azurém Campus, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Vítor M. C. F. Cunha
ISISE, Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Manuel F. M. Costa
Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Gualtar Campus, University of Minho, 4704-553 Braga, Portugal
Joaquim O. Carneiro
Centre of Physics of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Azurém Campus, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
This work evaluated the photocatalytic activity of 3D-printed cementitious mortar specimens functionalized with TiO2 nanoparticles to obtain a multifunctional and smart concrete. This research aims to assess the influence of different parameters related to the functionalization process such as adsorption, coating time gaps, and coating rates on the degradation efficiency of the functionalized cementitious specimens. Each specimen was evaluated under the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in an aqueous solution using a sun-light simulation. The obtained results showed a decrease in adsorption (under dark condition) with increasing the sample curing age. The highest photocatalytic efficiency was observed for coated samples aged 7 days. By increasing the coating rates, the photocatalytic efficiency is enhanced. Nonetheless, regardless of the coating rates, all the specimens showed an increase in photocatalytic efficiency for longer time periods of light exposition, i.e., after 8 h of irradiation.
