Antimicrobial photocatalytic coatings on sustainable construction materials carriers

Dr Gurbir Kaur    Trinity College Dublin & Universidad de Navarra, Departamento de Química – Facultad de Ciencias, Spain

Dr Gurbir Kaur is developing sustainable construction materials with antimicrobial properties to combat airborne infections in indoor environments. Her research targets two major concerns that the world is currently grappling with: the increase in healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and the escalating carbon emissions driving climate change. As an example, HAIs can occur within 48 hours of hospital admission and can be attributed to the microbial rich environment. Microorganisms are on all surfaces within the hospital environment, and Dr Kaur will design and implement new strategies in which to reduce or inactivate these microorganisms.

The materials in this research use waste as partial cement replacement promoting the recycling of waste, encouraging the circular economy, and the use of materials of low-embodied carbon and low energy input. The objective of this proposal is to develop a sustainable construction material to treat health-threatening bio-aerosols or airborne infections originating from microorganisms. To improve the sensitivity of the photocatalyst for indoor lighting applications, strategies involving doping (the process of adding such impurities known as dopants, to the bulk or a film of the material) will be explored. This is an interdisciplinary project that involves building materials, material science and microbiology. Dr Kaur is supported by her mentors Prof José Ignacio Álvarez Galindo of University of Navarra (Spain) and Prof Sara Pavia of Trinity College Dublin (Ireland).