NANOGUARD2AR · Project

Nanomaterial Air Curtains That Kill Indoor Bacteria and Mold Without Chemicals

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Imagine an invisible curtain of air at your doorway that doesn't just block drafts — it actually destroys bacteria, mold spores, and fungi passing through it. The team combined special nanomaterials that act like tiny solar panels, generating germ-killing molecules right on the surface, with air-curtain technology that buildings already use. The clever part: some of these materials work even in the dark, no UV light needed. They built working prototypes in three configurations — freestanding, wall-mounted, and object-directed — to keep indoor spaces microbially clean.

By the numbers

consortium partners involved

countries in the partnership

SMEs in the consortium

40%

industry participation ratio

air-curtain protection modes prototyped

total project deliverables

EUR 1,386,000

EU contribution to development

The business problem

What needed solving

Indoor spaces — offices, hospitals, museums, production floors — face constant invisible threats from airborne bacteria, mold, and fungal spores. Current solutions rely on energy-hungry HVAC filtration, UV sterilization requiring careful safety management, or chemical disinfectants that leave residues and need constant resupply. Building operators need a passive, low-maintenance way to stop microbial contamination at entry points without adding operational complexity.

The solution

What was built

The team built prototype air-curtain units that combine nanomaterial-based antimicrobial surfaces with air-barrier technology. The prototypes work in three modes: freestanding ("air-free"), wall-mounted ("adjusted to the wall"), and directed protection over specific objects. The nanomaterials generate hydroxyl radicals that destroy microbes — some working even without light exposure. Across the project, 11 deliverables were completed.

Audience

Who needs this

Facility management companies operating large office or retail buildingsMuseum and archive directors protecting sensitive collections from biodeteriorationPharmaceutical and biotech companies running cleanroom operationsHospital and healthcare facility managers combating hospital-acquired infectionsFood processing plants requiring microbial contamination control at entry zones

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Real Estate & Facility Management

enterprise

Target: Companies managing office buildings, shopping centers, or co-working spaces

If you are a facility manager dealing with sick building syndrome complaints and rising HVAC maintenance costs — this project developed a prototype air-curtain system enhanced with antimicrobial nanomaterials that kills bacteria and mold spores at entry points. The system was built in three configurations (freestanding, wall-mounted, and object-directed) and works without chemical disinfectants, reducing ongoing consumable costs. With 15 consortium partners across 5 countries validating the concept, this could replace or supplement your existing air filtration approach.

Museums & Cultural Heritage Preservation

any

Target: Museums, archives, and galleries protecting valuable collections

If you are a museum or archive struggling to protect artifacts from airborne fungal contamination without installing intrusive climate systems — this project developed air-curtain units that can be directed over specific objects to create a microbial-free protective barrier. The prototype was designed specifically with an 'over object' protection mode. Built by a consortium of 15 partners including 6 industry players, this solution could protect irreplaceable collections without the humidity and temperature disruption of conventional systems.

Pharmaceutical & Cleanroom Operations

mid-size

Target: Pharmaceutical manufacturers and biotech labs requiring controlled environments

If you are a pharma manufacturer spending heavily on cleanroom air handling and chemical decontamination — this project built a nanomaterials-enhanced air barrier that generates hydroxyl radicals to destroy microbial contamination without external energy input. The 'air-free' and 'wall-adjusted' prototype modes could serve as additional contamination barriers at critical transfer points. With 6 SMEs involved in the 15-partner consortium, the technology was developed with commercial viability in mind.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this system cost compared to standard air purification?

The project data does not include pricing or cost-per-unit figures. The EU contributed EUR 1,386,000 to develop the technology across 15 partners over 4 years. Since the nanomaterial coatings are designed to work without external energy (no UV lamps needed), operational costs could be lower than active purification systems, but specific numbers are not available.

Can this scale to large commercial buildings or is it lab-only?

The team built prototype air-curtain units in three configurations: freestanding, wall-mounted, and object-directed. These are physical working units, not just lab experiments. However, the project was funded under MSCA-RISE (researcher mobility program), so large-scale manufacturing readiness was not the primary goal. Scaling would require further engineering and production partnerships.

What is the IP situation — can I license this technology?

The project involved 15 partners across 5 countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Ukraine, Belarus), which means IP ownership is likely shared under consortium agreement terms. Contact the coordinator at NOVA ID FCT in Portugal to discuss licensing possibilities. Based on available project data, no commercial licensing structure is publicly documented.

Does this meet indoor air quality regulations in the EU?

The project was designed to support green building concepts and indoor air safeguard. While the objective mentions testing and validation, specific regulatory certifications (like EN 16798 or ISO 16890) are not referenced in the available data. Any deployment would likely need additional certification depending on the target market.

How long did development take and what stage is it at?

The project ran from January 2016 to December 2019 (4 years). They produced 11 deliverables including a working prototype air-curtain system. The technology reached proof-of-concept stage with physical prototypes demonstrated in three operating modes.

Can this integrate with existing HVAC and building management systems?

The air-curtain approach is designed as a standalone barrier system that could complement existing HVAC. The three prototype modes (freestanding, wall-adjusted, directed over object) suggest flexible installation options. Based on available project data, specific BMS integration protocols were not documented.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium is well-balanced for early-stage technology: 15 partners across 5 countries with a 40% industry ratio and 6 SMEs, meaning commercial perspectives were at the table from the start. The academic side (4 universities, 5 research organizations) from Portugal, Spain, and France provided the nanomaterials and microbiology expertise, while industry partners brought engineering and application knowledge. The inclusion of Ukrainian and Belarusian partners broadened the scientific base but may complicate future IP commercialization given current geopolitical realities. The coordinator, NOVA ID FCT in Portugal, is a university innovation association — a good sign for technology transfer but not a commercial entity itself.

NOVA ID FCT - ASSOCIACAO PARA A INOVACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO DA FCTCoordinator · PT
BELARUSIAN STATE UNIVERSITYpartner · BY
NANOTECHCENTER LLCparticipant · UA
DONETSK INSTITUTE FOR PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING NAMED AFTER O.O. GALKIN OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCESS OF UKRAINEparticipant · UA
COFAC COOPERATIVA DE FORMACAO E ANIMACAO CULTURAL CRLparticipant · PT
LABORATORIO NACIONAL DE ENGENHARIA CIVILparticipant · PT
TECHNOLOGIES EXPERTISES RECHERCHES ANALYTIQUES EN ENVIRONNEMENTparticipant · FR
INSTITUT MINES-TELECOMparticipant · FR
INSTITUTO DE SOLDADURA E QUALIDADEparticipant · PT
UNIVERSITE PARIS-SACLAYparticipant · FR
MATERIALS RESEARCH CENTERparticipant · UA
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

NOVA ID FCT - Associacao para a Inovacao e Desenvolvimento da FCT, Portugal. University innovation and tech transfer association linked to Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Order a report on this consortium See NOVA ID FCT - ASSOCIACAO PARA A INOVACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO DA FCT profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this antimicrobial air-curtain technology for your buildings or cleanrooms? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the research team and help navigate the consortium IP landscape.

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