Renewable zinc dioxide nanoparticles and coatings

• Nanoparticles of zinc peroxide can be regenerated by exposure to hydrogen peroxide.
• The renewability of zinc peroxide coated mica and zinc peroxide powders was shown.
• This generic class of materials containing a solid form of peroxide can be useful.

Nanoparticles of zinc peroxide, a well known and convenient solid source of hydrogen peroxide, oxygen or active oxygen species, can be readily regenerated by exposure of zinc oxide to slightly basic hydrogen peroxide solutions after being depleted of their active oxygen peroxide content, and these charge–discharge cycles can be repeated many times. We demonstrate the renewability of zinc peroxide coated mica and neat zinc peroxide powders by permanganometric titration, powder X-ray studies, thermal analysis and Raman spectroscopy, all showing good recovery with a rather small change of properties upon repeated cycling. We believe that renewable zinc peroxide can be useful for rechargeable antibiofouling or antifungal paints, clothing additive, floor coverings and other applications where hydrogen peroxide is slowly depleted and should be reloaded to regain its favorable activity.