ZrO2-doped ZnO-PDMS nanocomposites as protective coatings for the stone materials

<p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-US">ZnO is a semiconductor that has found wide application in the optics and electronics areas. Moreover, it widely used different technological areas </span><span lang="EN-US">due to its beneficial qualities (high chemical stability, non-toxicity, high photo-reactivity, cheapness). Based on antibacterial activity, recently also prevent bio-deterioration of cultural heritage buildings. As many authors suggested, doped ZnO nano-structures exhibit better properties than undoped analogues. In present work, nanoparticles with ZrO<sub>2</sub> have been prepared by sol-gel method order enhance photocatalytic as well activity ZnO. Then, ZrO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO-PDMS nanocomposite (PDMS, polydimethylsiloxane binder) was synthesized in-situ reaction. The resulting investigated possible protective material for building substrates. performances newly coating were evaluated three stones (Lecce stone, Carrara Marble Brick) compared Plain PDMS reference coating. </span></p>