Anti-Microbial and Self-Cleaning Properties of Photocatalytic Surface Treatments and their Potential Use for Space-Based Applications, Year 2

The purpose of this project was to implement a method to assess self-cleaning properties of commercially available photocatalytic surface treatments for their potential use for both Earth-based and space-based applications. The NASA Office of Planetary Protection supports studies which examine contamination protection outside of the Earth, including the moon, other planets, planetary vehicles, and the International Space Station (ISS). This protection is important to preserve the natural states of life outside of Earth, and to avoid contamination that would be detrimental to studies conducted beyond Earth; therefore, a higher level of cleanliness is imposed, more specifically for spacecraft and ISS use. Recent literature suggests the use of photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2) coatings for contaminant control in indoor environments such as residences, office buildings, aircrafts, and spacecraft. However, quantification and validation of these materials for this function is still required. This project looked at a method to evaluate commercially available photocatalytic coating's antimicrobial ability in a laboratory setting to consider their potential use in reducing the transmission of disease in a real life setting. These types of studies provide critical preliminary scientific information that can be used to help validate the utility of these commercially availableTiO2 coatings for antimicrobial purposes.

TiO2 is a strategically important raw material that provides novel self-cleaning solutions, however, the TiO2 industry is still in the development, and to improve the added value of these products increasing research and development investment and vigorously pushing forward the innovation is required. Today, Japan is the world's leading pioneer in photocatalytic nanomaterials research, development, and commercialization for self-cleaning applications. Additionally, these types of coatings have been applied to many hospitals and buildings in Asia and Europe to protect their exterior. This nanotechnology can potentially open up new markets in the Unites States. Additionally, planetary protection is the practice of protecting solar system bodies from contamination by terrestrial biological organisms, and the Earth from possible organisms that may be returned from other solar system bodies. Planetary protection is essential to preserve our ability to study other worlds as they exist in their natural states as well as to ensure that the Earth is protected. NASA maintains a Planetary Protection Policy and administers procedures to ensure compliance. The NASA Office of Planetary Protection is interested in practical cost-effective methods to implement planetary protection objectives that are aligned with proposed NASA missions, programs and activities; as such, photocatalytic coatings could transform the way planetary protection is approached.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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