Antimicrobial, Antiviral, and Antifungal Nanocoatings (RIA)

Inorganic nanomaterials have demonstrated enhanced anti-microbial and anti-viral activity. They are also stable at high temperatures, robust, and have a long shelf life, compared to organic anti-microbial coatings. Research areas should address new antiviral and antibacterial nanocoatings for a range of applications addressing use on both surfaces of so-called high-traffic objects (e.g. door and window handles in public places, public transport, hospitals, public buildings, schools, elderly homes etc.) and/or coatings for textiles (e.g. protective clothing in food processing plants, laboratory coats, face masks, etc.).

The research should address the following aspects:

• Sustainable synthesis of nanocoatings/nanocomposites (including bio-based materials) with effectiveness against a range of pathogens;
• Application methods (both on surfaces and textiles);
• Surface adhesion and durability via assessing performance against wear (e.g. abrasion, washing, etc.) and degradation in the application environments on a variety of surfaces (e.g. glass, metals and various alloys, copper and steel, marble and stone slabs, ceramics and tiles, textiles and plastics);
• Toxicity of nanocoatings.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

This topic is directly related to the well-being of citizens in the context of COVID-19 virus pandemic.