The demand for new antimicrobial products is increasing due to the increase treat in the spread of infections and the reduction in the effectiveness of the existing industrial products. Antimicrobial coatings are used in medical products, devices, and surfaces in medical facilities to prevent the spread of infections. These coatings are durable and can continue to perform even through regular, repeated water exposure and cleaning. Moreover, antimicrobial coatings can prevent germ growth for many applications well beyond healthcare. It is projected that, in the coming years, the coatings will become a requirement in high-traffic environments, such as educational settings, offices, and public transportation.

We aim to develop innovative visible-to-ultraviolet light conversion technology for cost-effective antimicrobial applications. The idea is motivated by the antimicrobial effect of ultraviolet C (UVC) light that will be generated by visible-to-UVC upconverted phosphors. The phosphors will be synthesized in the form of fine crystalline powders, structurally and optically characterized, and functionalized into surface coatings for antimicrobial applications using the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. The antimicrobial efficiencies and cytotoxicity of surface coatings will be estimated in the laboratory environments. Finally, to estimate real-world application, the antimicrobial efficiency of the coatings will be estimated under low-intensity solar light.