Photocatalysts are materials that utilize photons to activate chemical reactions. During the last 15 years, there has been a growing interest in photocatalysts for applications in various sectors, particularly in construction and consumer products. The main goal of this report is to provide insights into photocatalytic technology, outlining technological trends, and supplying a market analysis of various photocatalyst-based products.
 
Specifically, the major objectives of this study are to:

• Provide a detailed review of photocatalysts, including a description of materials, types, and production technologies.
• Highlight new technological developments in photocatalyst manufacturing, while outlining technical issues.
• Review current fields of application for photocatalysts and investigate emerging applications.
• Estimate current global markets for photocatalyst-based products by material type, application, and region, with growth forecasts through 2014 for each market segment.
• Identify important technology and market trends within each market segment.
• Supply an updated review of current players in photocatalyst technology.
• Provide a description of current worldwide research activities and evaluate their impact on industry growth.
• Determine trends in recently issued U.S. patents.

Photocatalysts represent a special type of catalyst that utilizes photons as a source of energy to activate certain reactions. The origins of photocatalysts can be traced back to 1791 with the discovery of the element titanium, even though the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide were discovered only in the late 1960s in Japan. Since then, several photocatalyst products have been gradually introduced and commercialized. Beginning in 1995, the number of research activities resulting in patent applications and issued patents increased rapidly. This led to the development of new materials, improved production processes, advanced properties, and an increase in the number of applications spanning many industrial sectors.
 
Both the ability of these materials to decompose certain types of organic and inorganic molecules and their super-hydrophilic properties have been exploited in numerous applications. These include residential and commercial construction, deodorizing products, appliances, sterilization articles, and water treatment products, just to name a few. The principal reason for doing this study is to establish a detailed market overview of the photocatalyst industry by quantifying sales of products containing photocatalysts, based on their types and fields of application. There is also a need to evaluate the current status and future trends of the photocatalyst industry from a global standpoint. As use of this technology expands, information on regional production, sales, and type of suppliers of photocatalysts becomes more valuable.
 
An equally important reason for performing this study is to provide technical insights into photocatalyst manufacturing by:

• Supplying a review of materials, shapes, and production methods
• Identifying current technical issues
• Providing an overview of global R&D activities related to photocatalysts, both within public and private organizations, and
• Illustrating the latest technological developments.

This information can assist companies in finding opportunities for process and productivity improvements, resulting in a positive impact on future market growth. 
 
This study will be of primary interest to all companies that:

• Manufacture, sell, and distribute photocatalyst materials and photocatalyst-based products.
• Fabricate paints, coatings, glass, and other products for the construction industry.
• Offer technical and/or marketing services for architectural, residential, and commercial window installation.
• Offer design and architectural services for green building manufacturing.
• Manufacture sterilization and deodorizing articles.
• Provide exterior and interior design for light vehicles.
• Provide consulting services for the solar and renewable energy market.
• Are planning to enter the coating industry as a supplier, manufacturer, or end user.
• Overall, this study applies to industry sectors such as construction, consumer products, automotive, medical, environmental, and energy.

This study is mainly directed towards executives, directors, operations managers, sales and marketing managers, and strategic planners working within the above industries. Universities and research facilities may find this study to be a good source of technical information regarding photocatalyst technology, materials, and applications, which can be used as a baseline for new or expanded R&D activities. Librarians of technical information and research centers can also use this report to provide critical data to product managers, market analysts, researchers, and other professionals needing detailed and updated insights into the photocatalyst industry.  
 
This study provides a current review of photocatalyst technology, including materials and production processes, and identifies current and emerging applications for this technology.
 
This Research determines the current market status of photocatalyst products, defines trends, and presents forecasts of growth over the next five years. Technological issues, including the latest process developments, are also discussed.
 
This Research analyzes the photocatalyst industry on a worldwide basis from the standpoint of both manufacturing and consumption. In addition, the study examines commercial and public research activities in major regions of the world. Research objectives and areas of interest related to materials, production methods, and applications of photocatalysts are also outlined.   
 
More specifically the market analysis is divided into five parts. 

• The first part of this study provides a historical review of photocatalysts including an outline of recent events. In addition, the report supplies a detailed description of photocatalytic materials, types, and their fabrication processes. In this section, current and emerging applications for these materials are also identified and divided by sector (i.e., construction, automotive, consumer products, medical, environmental, and energy).
• The second part of the report entails a global market analysis of photocatalyst products. Current technical issues are described, followed by a review of recent technological developments and related patent abstracts. Global revenues (sales data in millions of dollars) for photocatalyst products are presented by material type, application, and region, with actual data referring to the years 2007, 2008, and estimated data for the year 2009.
• This section concludes with a presentation of market growth trends based on industry growth, technological trends, and regional trends. Projected revenues are reported with forecast compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) for the period 2009 through 2014.
• In the third part, covering global industry structure, the report provides a list of the leading manufacturers of photocatalysts and a description of their products. The analysis includes a description of the geographical distribution of these firms and an evaluation of production versus consumption, always from a geographical standpoint. Detailed profiles of the industry’s leading companies are also provided.
• In the fourth part of this study an analysis of industry competitiveness is performed. This analysis encompasses a review of global research and development activities, with profiles of the most important R&D players divided by region, and an outline of the most critical factors contributing to industry competitiveness.
• The fifth and final section includes an extensive analysis of U.S. patents issued during the period of 2007 through 2009, with a summary of patents related to photocatalyst materials and their fabrication methods and applications. Patent analysis is performed by region, country, assignee, patent category, application, and material type.

THIS REPORT:

• Provides an historical review of photocatalyst technology including the most common materials used to fabricate photocatalysts, and descriptions of current and emerging applications for these products
• Contains global market forecasts for sales in the photocatalysts market through 2014
• Investigates the emerging applications for photocatalyst products in fields such as automotive, environmental remediation, medicine, biology, energy and various other consumer markets
• Includes profiles of leading suppliers of photocatalysts together with a description of their products and market share
• Reviews global research and development activities, with profiles of the most important R&D players divided by region and discussion of critical factors contributing to industry competitiveness.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION  
    STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES  
    REASONS FOR DOING THIS STUDY  
    INTENDED AUDIENCE 
    SCOPE OF REPORT  
    METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES


CHAPTER TWO: SUMMARY  
  SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL MARKET FOR PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS, THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS)  9
  SUMMARY FIGURE GLOBAL MARKET FOR PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS 2007­2014 ($ MILLIONS)  10


CHAPTER THREE: OVERVIEW  
     PHOTOCATALYSTS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR  11
     HISTORY OF PHOTOCATALYSTS  11
           HISTORY OF PHOTOCATALYSTS (CONTINUED)  12
  TABLE 1 PHOTOCATALYSTS--TECHNOLOGICAL MILESTONES  13
  FIGURE 1 PHOTOCATALYSTS--WORLDWIDE PATENT
     APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS ISSUED, 1970­2009  LEGEND  14
     PHOTOCATALYSTS­MATERIALS, TYPES AND PRODUCTION
        TECHNOLOGIES 15
           MATERIALS 15
                 Titanium Dioxide  15
                           Structure and Properties  15
                           New Developments  15
                 Tungsten Trioxide 16
                 Other Photocatalyst Materials  17
           TYPES AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES  18
                 Powders and Solutions  19
                 Films  19
     APPLICATIONS FOR PHOTOCATALYSTS  20
  TABLE 2 CURRENT AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS OF
     PHOTOCATALYSTS BY INDUSTRY  20
  TABLE 2 (CONTINUED) 21
           CONSTRUCTION  21
           AUTOMOTIVE  22
           MEDICAL/DENTAL  22
           ENVIRONMENTAL  22
                 CONSUMER PRODUCTS  23
                 ENERGY  24
                     Artificial Photosynthesis  24
                             Water Splitting  25
                             Decomposition of Carbon Dioxide  26
                             Decomposition of Hydrogen Sulfide  27


CHAPTER FOUR: GLOBAL MARKET
      ANALYSIS OUTLINE  28
      GLOBAL MARKET SUMMARY  28
           GLOBAL MARKET SUMMARY (CONTINUED)  29
  TABLE 3 GLOBAL MARKET FOR PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS,
     THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS) 30
  FIGURE 2 GLOBAL MARKET FOR PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS
     2007­2014 ($ MILLIONS)  30
           THE CURRENT PHOTOCATALYST MARKET
              INTRODUCTION  31
           CURRENT TECHNICAL ISSUES  31
                  Photocatalysts for Visible Light  31
                  Processing of Nanosized Powders  31
                  Processes for Films and Coatings  32
                  Low Conversion Efficiency in Energy Applications  32
                  Separation and Storage of Gases Produced During
                     Artificial Photosynthesis  32
           LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS  33
                  Uniformly Dispersed Photocatalyst  33
                  Titanium Dioxide Photocatalyst for Visible Light  33
                  Photocatalyst Coating  34
                  Visible Light Photocatalysts Prepared by Microwave
                     Process  35
                  Water Photolysis Apparatus  36
           CURRENT MARKET STATUS  37
                  Current Market Summary  37
                  Revenues by Material Type  38
  TABLE 4 PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--GLOBAL REVENUES BY
     MATERIAL TYPE, THROUGH 2009 ($ MILLIONS)  38
  FIGURE 3 PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--MARKET SHARE BY
     MATERIAL TYPE, 2009 (%)  39
                         Titanium Dioxide Demand  39
  FIGURE 4 TITANIUM DIOXIDE DEMAND, 2009 (%)  40
                  Revenues by Application  41
  TABLE 5 PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--GLOBAL REVENUES BY
     APPLICATION, 2009 ($ MILLIONS/%)  42
  FIGURE 5 PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--MARKET SHARE BY
     APPLICATION, 2009 (%)  42
                 Revenues by Region  43
TABLE 6 PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--REVENUES BY REGION
   THROUGH 2009 ($ MILLIONS) 43
FIGURE 6 PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--MARKET SHARE BY
   REGION, 2009 (%)  44
    MARKET GROWTH TRENDS  44
         CONSTRUCTION  44
                Paints and Coatings Industry Growth 45
TABLE 7 FORECAST: PAINTS AND COATINGS--GLOBAL
   REVENUES BY TYPE THROUGH 2014 ($ BILLIONS)  45
                Ceramic Tiles Industry Growth  45
                Flat Glass Industry Growth  45
                          Revenues by Sector  45
TABLE 8 FORECAST: FLAT GLASS--GLOBAL REVENUES BY
   SECTOR THROUGH 2014 ($ BILLIONS)  46
FIGURE 7 FORECAST: FLAT GLASS--MARKET SHARE BY SECTOR 2009 AND 2014 (%)  47
                          Revenues by Region  47
TABLE 9 FORECAST: FLAT GLASS--GLOBAL REVENUES BY
   REGION, THROUGH 2014 ($ BILLIONS)  48
FIGURE 8 FORECAST: FLAT GLASS--MARKET SHARE BY REGION, 2009 AND 2014 (%)  48
FIGURE 8 (CONTINUED)  49
                Technological and Environmental Trends in the
                     Construction Sector  49
                          Building Design 49
                          Energy Prices and Environmental Protection  50
         CONSUMER PRODUCTS  50
                Industry Growth  50
TABLE 10 FORECAST: CONSUMER PRODUCTS--GLOBAL
   REVENUES BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2014 ($
   BILLIONS)  51
         AUTOMOTIVE  51
                Industry Growth  51
                Technological Trends  51
         ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL  52
                Industry Growth  52
         MEDICAL/DENTAL  52
                Industry Growth  52
TABLE 11 FORECAST: MEDICAL/DENTAL SECTOR--GLOBAL
   REVENUES BY INDUSTRY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2014 ($
   BILLIONS)  52
         OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS  53
         REGIONAL TRENDS  53
       PROJECTED PHOTOCATALYST MARKET 54
           KEY OBSERVATIONS  54
   TABLE 12 FACTORS AFFECTING SALES OF PHOTOCATALYSTS,
      THROUGH 2014  54
           MARKET FORECAST  55
                Revenues by Application  55
   TABLE 13 FORECAST: PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--GLOBAL
      REVENUES BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS)  56
   FIGURE 9 FORECAST: PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--MARKET
      SHARE, BY APPLICATION, 2014 (%)  56
   FIGURE 9 (CONTINUED)  57
                       Revenues by Material Type  57
   TABLE 14 FORECAST: PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--GLOBAL
      REVENUES BY TYPE, THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS) 58
   FIGURE 10 FORECAST: PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--MARKET
      SHARE BY TYPE, 2014 (%)  58
                       Revenues by Region  59
   TABLE 15 FORECAST: PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS--REVENUES
      BY REGION, THROUGH 2014 ($ MILLIONS)  59
   FIGURE 11 FORECAST ­ PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS: MARKET
      SHARE BY REGION, 2014 (%)  60


CHAPTER FIVE: GLOBAL INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 
      GLOBAL INDUSTRY STRUCTURE  61
      LEADING SUPPLIERS OF PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS  62
  TABLE 16 LEADING SUPPLIERS OF PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS  62
  TABLE 16 (CONTINUED) 63
  TABLE 16 (CONTINUED) 64
  TABLE 16 (CONTINUED) 65
  TABLE 17 MANUFACTURERS OF PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS, BY
     SECTOR  66
  TABLE 17 (CONTINUED) 67
  TABLE 17 (CONTINUED) 68
  TABLE 17 (CONTINUED) 69
  FIGURE 12 MANUFACTURERS OF PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS,
     DISTRIBUTION BY SIZE (NUMBER OF COMPANIES)  70
      OTHER PLAYERS IN THE PHOTOCATALYST INDUSTRY  70
  TABLE 18 OTHER RELEVANT PLAYERS IN THE PHOTOCATALYST
     INDUSTRY  71
  TABLE 18 (CONTINUED) 72
      PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTION BY REGION  72
  TABLE 19 PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS: MANUFACTURING BY
     REGION, 2007-2014 (PERCENT OF SALES)  73
      PHOTOCATALYST CONSUMPTION BY REGION 73
    TABLE 20 PHOTOCATALYST PRODUCTS: CONSUMPTION BY
     REGION, 2007-2014 (PERCENT OF SALES)  74
      COMPANY PROFILES  74
           AOINN ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY  74
           CARDINAL GLASS INDUSTRIES  75
           DAIKIN INDUSTRIES  76
           GC CORPORATION 77
           ITOCHU CORPORATION  78
           JSR CORPORATION  78
           KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES  79
           MARUSYO SANGYO  80
           MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORP  81
           MITSUBISHI PLASTICS  81
           MURAKAMI  82
           NIPPON SHEET GLASS  83
           NIPPON SODA  84
           OKITSUMO  85
           PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS  86
           PPG INDUSTRIES 87
           SAINT-GOBAIN  88
           SHOWA DENKO  89
                Showa Denko (Continued)  90
           TOTO  91
           UBE INDUSTRIES  92


CHAPTER SIX: INDUSTRY COMPETITIVENESS 
  PHOTOCATALYST DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES  93
  TABLE 21 ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN PHOTOCATALYST
    RESEARCH, WORLDWIDE 93
  TABLE 21 (CONTINUED) 94
  TABLE 21 (CONTINUED) 95
  TABLE 21 (CONTINUED) 96
  TABLE 21 (CONTINUED) 97
  TABLE 21 (CONTINUED) 98
          UNITED STATES  99
               Sandia National Laboratories  99
  TABLE 22 SNL RESEARCH  100
               University of Florida  100
  TABLE 23 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH  101
          EUROPE  101
               Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France  101
                      Centre National  (Continued)  102
  TABLE 24 CNRS RESEARCH  103
               Leibniz Universitat Hannover, Germany  103
  TABLE 25 LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAT HANNOVER RESEARCH  104
              West Pomeranian University of Technology, Poland  104
TABLE 26 WEST POMERANIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
   RESEARCH 105
        ASIA-PACIFIC  105
             Nanyang Technological University, Singapore  105
TABLE 27 NTU RESEARCH  106
             National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
                  Technology, Japan  106
TABLE 28 AIST RESEARCH  107
             Pohang University of Science and Technology, South
                  Korea  107
TABLE 29 POSTECH RESEARCH  108
             Tokyo University of Science, Japan  108
TABLE 30 TUS RESEARCH  108
TABLE 30 (CONTINUED) 109
             University of Tokyo, Japan  109
TABLE 31 UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO RESEARCH  110
        REST OF THE WORLD  110
             Queensland University of Technology, Australia  110
TABLE 32 QUT RESEARCH  111
             University of New South Wales, Australia  111
TABLE 33 UNSW RESEARCH  112
TABLE 33 (CONTINUED) 113
        SUMMARY OF GLOBAL R&D ACTIVITIES IN
           PHOTOCATALYST TECHNOLOGY  113
FIGURE 13 CURRENT GLOBAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
   BY MATERIAL TYPE (%)  114
FIGURE 14 CURRENT GLOBAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BY SUBJECT (%)  115
FIGURE 14 (CONTINUED)  116
   OTHER CONSIDERATIONS  116
        COST FACTOR  116
        QUALITY FACTOR  117
        TECHNOLOGY FACTOR  117
        MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY  117
        KEY GROWTH MARKETS  118
TABLE 34 GLOBAL GROWTH FORECAST FOR CURRENT AND
   POTENTIAL PHOTOCATALYST APPLICATIONS, 2009-2014  118
TABLE 34 (CONTINUED) 119
             Construction 119
             Consumer Products  119
             Automotive  119
             Energy and Environmental  119
             Medical  120
       MARKET GROWTH FACTORS 120
           DRIVING FORCES  120
           IMPACT OF MARKET GROWTH FACTORS  121
   TABLE 35 PERCENTAGE IMPACT OF MAJOR COMPETITIVE
     FACTORS ON THE GROWTH OF THE PHOTOCATALYST
     INDUSTRY, 2009­2014  121


CHAPTER SEVEN: US PATENT ANALYSIS  
      INTRODUCTION  122
      SUMMARY OF PATENTS AWARDED DURING THE PERIOD 2007
        THROUGH 2009  122
  TABLE 36 PHOTOCATALYSTS­USPATENTS, 2009  123
  TABLE 37 PHOTOCATALYSTS ­ US PATENTS, 2008  133
  TABLE 38 PHOTOCATALYSTS ­ US PATENTS, 2007  141

      GENERAL TRENDS 146
  TABLE 39 PHOTOCATALYSTS: US PATENT TRENDS, 2007­2009  147
  FIGURE 15 PHOTOCATALYSTS: US PATENT TRENDS, 2007­2009
     (NUMBER OF PATENTS)  147
      TRENDS BY COUNTRY AND REGION  148
  FIGURE 16 SHARES OF US PATENTS RELATED TO
     PHOTOCATALYSTS BY REGION, 2007­2009 (%)  148
  FIGURE 16 (CONTINUED)  149
FIGURE 17 PHOTOCATALYSTS: PATENTS BY COUNTRY, 2007­2009
   (%)  150
    TRENDS BY ASSIGNEE  150
             TRENDS BY ASSIGNEE (CONTINUED)  151
TABLE 40 ASSIGNEES OF US PATENTS RELATED TO
   PHOTOCATALYSTS, 2007­2009  152
TABLE 40 (CONTINUED) 153
TABLE 40 (CONTINUED) 154
TABLE 41 ASSIGNEE DISTRIBUTION 154
FIGURE 18 PHOTOCATALYSTS: SHARES OF US PATENTS BY
   ORGANIZATION TYPE, THROUGH 2009 (%)  155
    TRENDS BY PATENT CATEGORY  156
FIGURE 19 PHOTOCATALYSTS: SHARES OF US PATENTS BY
   CATEGORY, 2007-2009 (%)  156
FIGURE 19 (CONTINUED)  157
    TRENDS BY APPLICATION  157
             TRENDS BY APPLICATION (CONTINUED) 158
FIGURE 20 PHOTOCATALYSTS: SHARES OF US PATENTS BY
   APPLICATION, 2007­2009 (%)  159
    TRENDS BY MATERIAL TYPE  159
FIGURE 21 PHOTOCATALYSTS: SHARES OF US PATENTS BY
   MATERIAL TYPE, 2007­2009 (%)  160