The Delhi government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology Madras to conduct a six-month pilot study on photocatalytic “smog-eating” surfaces aimed at reducing air pollution in the capital.
The project will examine whether materials using Titanium Dioxide (TiO) or similar photocatalysts can reduce pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), both of which contribute to urban smog.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and officials from the environment department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The initiative is being carried out under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
According to the government, the study will explore whether photocatalytic materials can be applied to urban infrastructure such as roads, buildings and other surfaces.
These materials react under sunlight and can convert certain harmful pollutants into less harmful compounds.
“Through this study with IIT Madras, we aim to identify practical ways to apply smog-eating coatings on roads, buildings and other surfaces. If the research provides evidence that such materials can reduce pollutants like NO, it could support future interventions,” Sirsa said.
Researchers from IIT Madras will begin the project with laboratory tests using a smog chamber to measure the reduction of pollutants under controlled conditions.
This will be followed by field trials in Delhi where the materials will be tested on surfaces such as concrete roads, asphalt, glass and metal panels.
The study will also assess the use of photocatalytic panels made from Titanium Dioxide-based materials. These panels may be installed on rooftops or mounted on street-light poles to help remove pollutants from surrounding air.
Professor Somnath C Roy, who is leading the study, said the research will combine laboratory testing with real-time field assessment to evaluate the effectiveness and durability of the materials in Delhi’s conditions.
Officials said the findings of the study will guide the government on whether such technologies can be deployed in the city, particularly during the peak smog months.
