Negative effects of environmental pollution pose a significant risk to agriculture, water resources and human health. This can however be reduced by selecting appropriate materials in construction and landscape architecture. It is well-known that strong sunlight or ultraviolet light decomposes many organic materials in a slow natural process. Photocatalytic substances accelerate this process and when used in concrete (which is one of the most widely used construction materials), permit the treatment of pollutants close to their source by applying a self-cleaning principle: decomposing organic materials, biological materials and pollutants into molecules like oxygen, water, carbon dioxide, nitrates, and sulphates. Catalytic material activation will start due to energy that is received from sunlight (it also can be activated using artificial lights), and self-cleaning begins when this material is activated. Beside other properties, this innovative self-cleaning concrete also keeps its colour for far longer than other traditional building materials, making it a desirable solution for landscaping applications.
Self-cleaning building materials: The multifaceted effects of titanium dioxide