Photocatalytic panel and method for activating same

Abstract

A photocatalytic panel or pane and a method for activating the same are disclosed. The photocatalytic panel includes a transparent substrate having major surfaces parallel with and opposed to each other and an edge surface; a photocatalytic film formed on at least one of the major surfaces and a light source for exciting the photocatalytic film. Light from the light source enters the substrate from a vicinity of the edge surface (or a peripheral portion of the substrate) and then is reflected totally within a laminate of the substrate and the photocatalytic film. The method includes the steps: preparing the photocatalytic panel, entering light from the light source into the substrate from a vicinity of the edge surface (or the peripheral portion and reflecting the light within the laminate in accordance with total internal reflection, thereby the photocatalytic film is excited. Therefore, the photocatalytic film can effectively be activated via the substrate to oxidize/reduce substances in contact with the photocatalytic film.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A photocatalytic panel comprising: 
 a substantially transparent substrate having (1) first and second major surfaces that are substantially parallel with and opposed to each other and (2) an edge surface that connects said first and second major surfaces together;    a photocatalytic film formed on at least one of said first and second major surfaces; and    a light source for exiting said photocatalytic film, said light source being disposed at a position relative to a laminate of said transparent substrate and said photocatalytic film such that light from said light source enters said transparent substrate from said edge surface and then said light is reflected totally within said laminate, thereby to excite said photocatalytic film and to prevent said light from escaping from said first and second major surfaces of said laminate.    
     
     
         2 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 1   , wherein said light source is positioned at a vicinity of said edge surface.  
     
     
         3 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 at least one optical fiber being interposed between a vicinity of said edge surface and said light source positioned away from said laminate; and    thereby light from said light source is delivered into said laminate via said optical fiber.    
     
     
         4 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a substantially transparent interlayer film interposed between said photocatalytic film and said first or said second major surface.    
     
     
         5 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 1   , wherein light from said light source comprises ultraviolet rays.  
     
     
         6 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 1   , wherein said edge surface of said transparent substrate is substantially perpendicularly to each of said first and second surfaces of said transparent substrate.  
     
     
         7 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 1   , wherein said photocatalytic film further comprises titanium oxide (titania), tungsten oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, tin oxide or a combination thereof as a photocatalytic substance.  
     
     
         8 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 7   , wherein said photocatalytic film further comprises glass or plastic material as a binder.  
     
     
         9 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a covering member to cover said second major surface;    wherein said photocatalytic film is disposed on said first major surface; and    thereby light transmitting within said transparent substrate is prevented from escaping from said second major surface.    
     
     
         10 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 1   , wherein said transparent substrate is made of transparent glass or plastic material.  
     
     
         11 . A photocatalytic panel comprising: 
 a substantially transparent substrate having a first and second major surfaces that are substantially parallel with and opposed to each other;    a photocatalytic film formed on said first and second major surfaces; and    a light source for exiting said photocatalytic film, said light source being disposed at a position relative to a laminate of said transparent substrate and said photocatalytic film such that light from said light source enters said transparent substrate from a peripheral portion of said transparent substrate, thereby to reflect said light totally within said laminate to excite said photocatalytic film.    
     
     
         12 . The photocatalytic transparent panel according to    claim 11   , wherein said light source is positioned in a vicinity of said peripheral portion of said transparent substrate.  
     
     
         13 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 11   , further comprising: 
 an optical coupler for redirecting light from said light source, said optical coupler being disposed in a vicinity of said peripheral portion of said transparent substrate;    wherein said light source is positioned in a vicinity of said optical coupler; and    thereby light from said light source enters said transparent substrate via said optical coupler.    
     
     
         14 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 13   , wherein said optical coupler is composed of at least one optical prism.  
     
     
         15 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 11   , further comprising: 
 an optical coupler for redirecting light from said light source, said optical coupler being disposed in a vicinity of said peripheral portion of said transparent substrate;    at least one optical fiber interposed between said optical coupler and said light source, and said light source being positioned away from said transparent substrate; and    thereby light from said light source is delivered from said light source into said transparent substrate via said optical fiber.    
     
     
         16 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 11   , further comprising: 
 a substantially transparent interlayer film interposed between said photocatalytic film and said first or said second major surface.    
     
     
         17 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 11   , wherein light from said light source comprises ultraviolet rays.  
     
     
         18 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 11   , wherein said edge surface of said transparent substrate is substantially perpendicularly to each of said first and second surfaces of said transparent substrate.  
     
     
         19 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 11   , wherein said photocatalytic film comprises titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, tin oxide or combination thereof as a photocatalytic substance.  
     
     
         20 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 19   , wherein said photocatalytic film further comprises glass or plastic material as a binder.  
     
     
         21 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 11   , further comprising: 
 a covering member to cover said second major surface;    wherein said photocatalytic film is disposed on said first major surface; and    thereby light transmitting within said transparent substrate is prevented from escaping from said second major surface.    
     
     
         22 . The photocatalytic panel according to    claim 11   , wherein said transparent substrate is made of transparent glass or plastic material.  
     
     
         23 . A method for activating a photocatalytic panel comprising the steps: 
 preparing a photocatalytic transparent panel composed of ( 1 ) a substantially transparent substrate having first and second major surfaces that are substantially parallel with and opposed to each other and an edge surface that connects said first and second major surfaces together, ( 2 ) a photocatalytic film formed on at least one of said first and second major surfaces; and ( 3 ) a light source for exiting said photocatalytic film, said light source being disposed at a position relative to a laminate of said transparent substrate and said photocatalytic film;    entering light from said light source into said transparent substrate from said edge surface or a peripheral portion of said transparent substrate, and    reflecting said light within said laminate in accordance with the principles of total internal reflection, thereby said photocatalytic film is excited.    
     
     
         24 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , wherein light from said light source positioned in a vicinity of said edge surface or in a vicinity of said peripheral portion enters said transparent substrate from a vicinity of said edge surface.  
     
     
         25 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , wherein light from said light source positioned away from said laminate is delivered via at least one optical fiber interposed between said light source and a vicinity of said edge surface or said peripheral portion to enter said transparent substrate.  
     
     
         26 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , wherein a substantially transparent interlayer film is interposed between said photocatalytic film and said first or second major surface.  
     
     
         27 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , wherein light from said light source comprises ultraviolet rays.  
     
     
         28 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , said edge surface of said transparent substrate is substantially perpendicularly to each of said first and second surfaces of said transparent substrate.  
     
     
         29 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , wherein said photocatalytic film further comprises titanium oxide (titania), tungsten oxide, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, tin oxide or a combination thereof as a photocatalytic material.  
     
     
         30 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , wherein said photocatalytic film further comprises glass or plastic material as a binding material.  
     
     
         31 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , wherein said photocatalytic panel further comprises a covering member to cover said second major surface; 
 wherein said photocatalytic film is disposed on said first major surface; and    thereby light transmitting within said transparent substrate is prevented from escaping from said second major surface.    
     
     
         32 . The method for activating a photocatalytic panel according to    claim 23   , wherein said transparent substrate is made of glass or plastic material.