Reactive robust coatings for visible-light-activated disinfection
Sprayable photocatalytic coatings that use visible light to continuously disinfect surfaces and air. Designed for integration into air filters, walls, floors, windows, and intubation devices, the technology destroys viruses, bacteria, and mold by leveraging transition-metal-doped titanium oxides with an inner plasmonic layer that generates high-energy electrons capable of annihilating organic compounds and proteins.
Overview
Reactive robust coatings (2RCs) are sprayable photocatalytic surface treatments designed to provide continuous, long-term disinfection activated by ordinary visible light. The coatings are engineered to disintegrate microorganisms with Coronavirus-like surface structures in airborne or aerosol sources, making them suitable for high-traffic environments such as healthcare facilities, public buildings, and transportation systems. Potential deployment surfaces include air filters, intubation devices, floors, walls, and windows, where they can treat air or aerosols containing virulent particles across large areas using standard visible light sources (wavelengths above 430 nm). By preventing microbial adhesion and actively inactivating pathogens, 2RCs offer a proactive alternative to conventional chemical disinfection regimes.
Technical specifications
Core mechanism:
- Transition-metal dopants are introduced into titanium oxide matrices to create an inner plasmonic layer
- The plasmonic layer stores sufficient energy to annihilate organic compounds and proteins found in viruses, bacteria, and mold
- Activation occurs via surface plasmon interfaces at air/solid and solution/solid boundaries, driven by high-energy conducting-band electrons
Key features:
- Activated by visible light (wavelengths greater than 430 nm), eliminating the need for UV sources
- Sprayable application enables coverage of large and irregular surfaces
- Compatible with air filters, intubation devices, floors, walls, and windows
- Designed to prevent microbial adhesion rather than merely killing settled organisms
Validation approach:
- ATP (adenosine triphosphate) testing using a luminometer to measure contamination in Relative Light Units (RLU)
- Coatings contaminated by dirty hands measured below 4 RLU, compared to control surfaces exceeding 430 RLU
- Future research focuses on tuning dopant size and material mismatch to increase density of states, optimizing photoelectronic oxidation states during deposition and curing, and establishing scaling protocols for manufacturing
Technology readiness level
The technology has undergone initial sanitation validation demonstrating extremely low contamination readings (below 4 RLU) even after deliberate contamination with dirty hands, while untreated controls exceeded 430 RLU. Ongoing research aims to refine the dopant chemistry for enhanced surface plasmon interfaces, characterize oxidation-state effects during fabrication, and develop scalable manufacturing processes. The coatings are positioned for further development toward commercial deployment in infection-control applications, with future validation efforts targeting process integration and production-scale protocols.
About University of South Florida
A comprehensive public research university with multiple campuses across the Tampa Bay region, USF combines scale with an applied, partnership‑driven culture. A research and technology park anchors co‑located corporate R&D, startups, and shared facilities that enable prototyping and testing. USF Health’s connection to a major hospital system and nearby specialty clinics supports clinical studies, device validation, and translational collaborations. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, and DoD. A dedicated technology transfer office and research foundation manage IP, licensing, industry agreements, and venture creation, with incubator and accelerator resources in the park.
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