Photocatalytic Silica-Resin Coating for Environmental Protection of Paper as a Plastic Substitute

We developed an easy silica-resin coating technique to compensate for paper's weaknesses, including its lack of water resistance and strength, and proposed its use as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. We demonstrate here that 2 nm anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were finely dispersed in a coating film with a thickness of several micrometers formed on the paper's cellulose fibers and exhibited moderate photocatalytic effects such as methylene blue degradation and antibacterial activity. Additionally, the porous silica-resin film has a high adsorptive capacity, efficiently capturing organic pollutants until they decompose via photocatalytic reactions. As a result, the stable silica-resin-TiO2 composite coating protects paper from the environment for an extended period of time, transforming it into an excellent plastic substitute with enhanced functionality.