By being constantly exposed to outdoor conditions, painted infrastructures undergo complex degradation phenomena (e.g., color fading and biodeterioration) that irreversibly alter their surfaces and compromise their structural integrity. These issues also affect assets of historic relevance such as ancient frescoes, making it imperative to seek protective solutions to tackle diverse degradation mechanisms. While the catalytic properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) have been extensively exploited for different applications both in the biomedical and in the industrial fields, their potential for this specific purpose is yet to be explored. Indeed, the catalytic behavior of these NPs provides a starting point to formulate long-lasting solutions, thanks to the regeneration of the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) ratio made possible through the interaction of the NPs with different environmental factors. Nevertheless, since their activity is strongly linked to the number of active sites on the surface, it is pivotal to maximize the surface-to-volume ratio by fine-tuning the size and morphology of the NPs. We especially designed a straightforward, reproducible and scalable process to synthesize ultra-small crystalline CeO2 NPS with diameters of 1.8 nm, the smallest reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge. Exceptional stability in the dispersion and in polymeric coatings were observed, showing promising opportunities for their potential use in commercial formulations. Through advanced physico-chemical characterization, we also investigated their main features and we used Environmental XPS to monitor the regeneration potential of the catalyst. In the prospect of a future application for the conservation of outdoor assets, cytotoxicity was evaluated, determining no negative response in cellular interaction. Lastly, we obtained encouraging results after assessing the inclusion of the NPs in a biopolymer-based matrix; in particular, we preliminarily tested the protecting ability, the redox activity and the macroscopic characteristics of the applied coating.
Engineering nanoceria-based multifunctional coatings for advanced surface protection
Erica Galvagno;Federica Menegazzo;
2024-01-01
Abstract
By being constantly exposed to outdoor conditions, painted infrastructures undergo complex degradation phenomena (e.g., color fading and biodeterioration) that irreversibly alter their surfaces and compromise their structural integrity. These issues also affect assets of historic relevance such as ancient frescoes, making it imperative to seek protective solutions to tackle diverse degradation mechanisms. While the catalytic properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) have been extensively exploited for different applications both in the biomedical and in the industrial fields, their potential for this specific purpose is yet to be explored. Indeed, the catalytic behavior of these NPs provides a starting point to formulate long-lasting solutions, thanks to the regeneration of the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) ratio made possible through the interaction of the NPs with different environmental factors. Nevertheless, since their activity is strongly linked to the number of active sites on the surface, it is pivotal to maximize the surface-to-volume ratio by fine-tuning the size and morphology of the NPs. We especially designed a straightforward, reproducible and scalable process to synthesize ultra-small crystalline CeO2 NPS with diameters of 1.8 nm, the smallest reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge. Exceptional stability in the dispersion and in polymeric coatings were observed, showing promising opportunities for their potential use in commercial formulations. Through advanced physico-chemical characterization, we also investigated their main features and we used Environmental XPS to monitor the regeneration potential of the catalyst. In the prospect of a future application for the conservation of outdoor assets, cytotoxicity was evaluated, determining no negative response in cellular interaction. Lastly, we obtained encouraging results after assessing the inclusion of the NPs in a biopolymer-based matrix; in particular, we preliminarily tested the protecting ability, the redox activity and the macroscopic characteristics of the applied coating.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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