A tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating oxidizes
contaminants in the air that adsorb onto the coating into water, carbon
dioxide, and other substances. The tungsten oxide forms a monolayer on
the titanium dioxide. When photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed
by the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating, an electron
is promoted from the valence band to the conduction band, producing a
hole in the valence band. The holes in the valence band react with water
applied on the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst coating,
forming reactive hydroxyl radicals. When a contaminant in the air is
adsorbed onto the tungsten oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalyst, the
hydroxyl radical attacks the contaminant, abstracting a hydrogen atom
from the contaminant. The hydroxyl radical oxidizes the contaminant,
producing water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The tungsten
oxide/titanium dioxide photocatalytic coating has low sensitivity to
humidity variations.