Air-Purifying Church Windows Early Nanotechnology

Stained glass windows that are painted with gold purify the air when they are lit up by sunlight, a team of Queensland University of Technology experts have discovered.

Associate Professor Zhu Huai Yong, from QUT’s School of Physical and Chemical Sciences said that glaziers in medieval forges were the first nanotechnologists who produced colours with gold nanoparticles of different sizes.

Professor Zhu said numerous church windows across Europe were decorated with glass coloured in gold nanoparticles.

"For centuries people appreciated only the beautiful works of art, and long life of the colours, but little did they realise that these works of art are also, in modern language, photocatalytic air purifiers with nanostructured gold catalysts," Professor Zhu said.

He said tiny particles of gold, energised by the sun, were able to destroy air-borne pollutants like volatile organic chemical (VOCs), which may often come from new furniture, carpets and paint in good condition.

"These VOCs create that ‘new’ smell as they are slowly released from walls and furniture, but they, along with methanol and carbon monoxide, are not good for your health, even in small amounts," he said.

"Gold, when in very small particles, becomes very active under sunlight.

"The electromagnetic field of the sunlight can couple with the oscillations of the electrons in the gold particles and creates a resonance.

"The magnetic field on the surface of the gold nanoparticles can be enhanced by up to hundred times, which breaks apart the pollutant molecules in the air."

Professor Zhu said the by-product was carbon dioxide, which was comparatively safe, particularly in the small amounts that would be created through this process.

He said the use of gold nanoparticles to drive chemical reactions opened up exciting possibilities for scientific research.

"This technology is solar-powered, and is very energy efficient, because only the particles of gold heat up," he said.

"In conventional chemical reactions, you heat up everything, which is a waste of energy.

"Once this technology can be applied to produce specialty chemicals at ambient temperature, it heralds significant changes in the economy and environmental impact of the chemical production."

[Rachael Wilson @ Queensland University of Technology]

• First Stained Glass Window Film - 24×36
• Flower Basket Tiffany Style Stained Glass Hanging Lamp
• 49174 Tiffany Glass Very Victorian Stained Glass Tiffany Window from the Very Victorian Collection
• Maryland II Large Rectangle Tiffany-Style Stained Art Glass Window Panel large rectangle multi
• Stained Glass 2-for-1 Top - 057425
• Stained Glass Shell Design Fireplace Screen
• Solstice Tiffany-Style Stained Art Glass Window Panel
• Arbor Medium Rectangle Tiffany-Style Stained Art Glass Window Panel rectangle med multi
• Personalized Gifts - Stained Glass Angel Christmas Ornament
• 77721 Tiffany Irish Stained Glass Tiffany Window from the Irish Collection
• Craftsman Valance Tiffany-Style Stained Art Glass Window Panel valance gray/tan
• 67791 Tiffany Arts & Crafts Stained Glass Tiffany Window from the Arts & Crafts Collection
• Framed Hummingbird Floral Stained Glass Window Panel
• 41052 Multi-Color Flourish Rectangular Stained Glass Window Art Panel from the Flourish Family
• Great Vintage Stained Glass Plaque
• Craftsman Valance Tiffany-Style Stained Art Glass Window Panel valance frosted/seeded
• Color Your Own! Stained Glass Coloring Books With Markers. 12/3314
• Stained Glass Vase and Bowl Wall Art - Southern Enterprises - EF5191
• Southern Enterprises Stained Glass Vase & Bowl Wall Art - GA1915 - Gifts Home Decor
• 18005 Pink Turtle Stained Glass / Tiffany Specialty Lamp from the Turtle Collection
• 31210 Tiffany Glass Roseborder & Tulip Stained Glass / Tiffany Accent Table Lamp from the Roseborder & Tulip Collection
• Tiffany style Stained Glass Window Panel
• Genetian Medium Rectangle Tiffany-Style Stained Art Glass Window Panel rectangle medm blue
• Castaway Large Rectangle Tiffany-Style Stained Art Glass Window Panel large rect. multi
• Gateway Half-Round Tiffany-Style Stained Art Glass Window Panel half-round multi