Photocatalytic coatings for microbial disinfection

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COVID-19 has highlighted public concern with microbial transmission in high traffic areas with high-touch surfaces. In places like transit, classrooms and movie theatres where there is a high turnover of occupants, businesses clean and disinfect to prevent spread of disease so that people can be feel comfortable in resuming their normal lives. Typical disinfectants, like bleach and peroxide, are effective at killing microbes, but only while they are in contact, during the cleaning process.The goal of this project is to create continuous passive disinfection with a coating that remains active over a long period of time, so that microbes that are deposited on coated surfaces can be deactivated. The partnership with McRae Imaging is about developing a coating that is compatible with fabrics, as well as similar soft and flexible surfaces, that are deployed on seating covers. The disinfecting ability of the coating is based on photocatalysis. Photocatalysts work by breaking organic bonds in the presence of light.