A self-cleaning window for high-efficiency photodegradation of indoor formaldehyde

Formaldehyde (HCHO) as an indoor air pollutant released by new furniture and decorative materials is of great concern. Developing a self-cleaning device to remove HCHO is an ideal way to improve indoor air quality. In this study, a self-cleaning window with a multilayered structure constructed from fluorine-doped tin oxide/bismuth tungstate/resorcinol-formaldehyde resin (FTO/Bi2WO6/RF) has been fabricated, which is capable of degrading HCHO in natural indoor condition. The as-fabricated device could utilize the natural room light and promote the generation and transfer of the photocatalytic carriers in Bi2WO6, which subsequently delivers a good catalytic oxygen reduction efficiency in RF to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The as-synthesized H2O2 could further split into hydroxyl radicals (•OH), then oxide the HCHO molecules in the air. The present study demonstrates a novel and efficient strategy to fabricate a transparent multifunctional window for self-cleaning indoor gaseous pollutants, the concept is of great importance to be expanded in a broad range of indoor furniture for in-house air pollution control.