Polydopamine film coating on polyurethane foams as efficient “sunscreen”. Application to photocatalysis under UV irradiation

Polyurethanes are used in a large variety of commercial and technical applications, due to their high tensile strength, chemical resistance, good process ability mechanical properties. In particular, polyurethane open cell foams appear as ideal candidates design original photoreactors. However, sensitivity UV light, can be not directly structured photocatalytic supports. this work, we show that simple thin polydopamine film coating on the foam surface plays “sunscreen” role, protecting from UVA or UVC degradation inhibiting volatile organic compounds’ emanation. Furthermore, when loaded with TiO 2 particles, these functionalized allowed developing an efficient system for formic acid water mineralization acetaldehyde, n-heptane, toluene acetone air.