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Optics and photonics, architecture and construction, electronics, medical applications, and aerospace and defense are some of the fields in which transparent materials have become increasingly important in recent years. Overall, transparent materials play a crucial role in numerous areas of contemporary technology and industry, and their continued development and improvement are crucial to the advancement of these disciplines. Oxides are a class of materials that have been extensively studied for their various applications, including their transparency potential. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is one of the oxides for which the most research has been conducted, leading to its widespread use in a variety of applications. Photocatalysis, photovoltaic cells, piezoelectrics, sensors, biological applications as an antimicrobial and fungicide applications are among the numerous applications. ZnO, TiO2,CeO2 and WO3 are the most commonly used UV-absorbing oxides. This bandgap value indicates the material's high UV absorption and transparency in the visible spectrum. This UV absorption produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion (O2-), hydroxyl radical (OH•), and singlet oxygen (1O2). This process of photogeneration of these ROS is capable of degenerating various types of organisms, such as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, cancer cells, and water contaminants, by inducing oxidative stress. Currently, I am investigating the production of these transparent oxides in thin layers on glass substrates for the degradation of bactericidal agents and pollutants in water in order to accomplish a broad application for glass surfaces.

Figure 1. Enhancing Glass Surface Functionality for Water Purification and Bactericidal Applications with Thin-Layered Transparent Oxides

Jaime González Cuadra

PhD Student

Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Orgánica

Universitat Jaume I

Castellón de la plana