Photocatalytic acrylic coating for antimicrobial surface protection
A sprayable acrylic-based photocatalyst coating that delivers visible-light-activated antimicrobial activity on consumer and industrial surfaces. The formulation immobilizes 2-10nm TiO2 on high-surface-area supports within a self-polymerizing acrylic binder, enabling broad-spectrum pathogen reduction without releasing nanoparticles.
Overview
This solution is a novel photocatalytic coating designed to provide continuous antimicrobial activity on a wide range of surfaces relevant to consumer, healthcare, and industrial environments. By combining a proprietary photocatalyst with an acrylic binder in an aqueous, sprayable formulation, the coating can be applied with a hand pump nozzle that produces droplets in the non-inhalable range (80-120 micrometers). The self-polymerizing acrylic adheres the photocatalyst to surfaces while keeping the active sites exposed, addressing a key challenge that has limited photocatalytic film performance.
The technology targets surface-borne pathogens and contaminants, offering a non-toxic, easily deployed approach to reducing microbial load on high-touch and shared surfaces. It is being developed by Sonata Scientific, a nanotechnology company with a track record in photocatalytic air quality solutions.
Technical specifications
- Photocatalyst composition: 2-10nm TiO2 nanoparticles tightly bound to high-surface-area inorganic supports (1-600 micrometers), with non-toxic dopants and sensitizers used to tune spectral response into the visible-light range.
- Binder system: Self-polymerizing acrylic binder that adheres the photocatalyst to surfaces without blocking active sites, formulated as a non-toxic aqueous suspension.
- Application method: Hand pump spray nozzle producing 80-120 micrometer droplets to keep particles in the non-inhalable range; sprayability to be optimized through viscosity control, particle sizing (1-20 micrometers), and optional dispersants.
- Demonstrated antimicrobial performance: 2-5 log reductions against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, P. aeruginosa, MS2 phage, and human coronavirus under 405nm light at intensities of 2-30 mW/cm2 when embedded in a polymer matrix.
- Additional demonstrated activity: Spore killing under 365nm illumination and chemical breakdown of phenol under white-light illumination using the photocatalyst alone.
- Durability precedent: Powder-coated (solventless) versions of the composite have shown high durability, informing future adhesion testing via tape tests and SEM examination.
Technology readiness level
The photocatalyst and antimicrobial performance have been validated in a polymer matrix, and the underlying photocatalyst platform has been deployed commercially by Sonata Scientific in industrial air purification applications. The current stage focuses on adapting the proven photocatalyst into a sprayable acrylic formulation, with planned six-month validation studies examining binder compatibility, antimicrobial efficacy against E. coli, adhesion, sprayability, and potential combination with non-photocatalytic antimicrobials. Collaborative access to additional pathogens is available through relationships with Yale Medical School and the University of Connecticut Health Center.
About Sonata Scientific
Sonata Scientific is a nanotechnology research company specializing in industrial indoor air quality (IAQ) solutions. Their core technology platform utilizes a patented photocatalyst to generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) when activated by light, which destroys volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and airborne pathogens by converting them into harmless byproducts like water and carbon dioxide. Unlike traditional scrubbing systems that merely store pollutants, Sonata’s approach is designed for high-performance removal, achieving reductions to parts-per-trillion levels. Their flagship product line, Helios, provides a mobile, ductless, and plug-and-play solution specifically engineered to capture and eliminate fugitive ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions—a common byproduct of medical device sterilization—at the source without requiring infrastructure modifications or disruptive facility changes.
These innovations are critical for manufacturers, healthcare facilities, and logistics providers who need to ensure workforce and community safety while navigating increasingly stringent air quality regulations. By providing effective, sustainable, and portable air purification, Sonata helps organizations maintain clean environments throughout the supply chain, from sterilization areas and warehouses to distribution centers and transport. The company’s technology has been validated in industrial sterilization environments, demonstrating high destruction removal efficiency (DRE) for EtO. Sonata Scientific’s research and development efforts are supported by various U.S. federal and state agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which have funded multiple projects to address air quality, pathogen inactivation, and ethylene management.
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