Nippon Paint, University of Tokyo Find Strong Antiviral Activity in Natural Zeolite
Researchers from the University of Tokyo and Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. have identified natural mordenite-type zeolite as a material with exceptionally high antiviral activity, providing new guidance for the development of metal-free antiviral materials.
The research team systematically compared multiple natural and synthetic zeolite framework structures and found that both natural mordenite, or MOR-type zeolite, and its proton form, H-MOR, showed particularly high antiviral performance.
Further structural characterization and surface-acidity measurements found a strong correlation between antiviral activity and the acid strength of the zeolite's external surface.
Many existing zeolite-based antiviral materials use silver or copper ions. According to the researchers, practical limitations can include cost, metal leaching and discoloration.
The team previously demonstrated in 2023 that proton-type zeolites containing no metal ions can exhibit antiviral activity. The new work focused on determining which framework structures are responsible for stronger performance.
Researchers said the findings provide a foundation for lower-cost antiviral materials that do not rely on silver or other metals and establish design guidelines based on zeolite surface acidity.
The study, "Topology-Dependent Antiviral Activity of H Form Zeolites: Discovery of a Highly Active Natural Mordenite," was published in ACS Nano. The work was conducted as part of joint research under the Industry-Academia Co-creation Agreement between the University of Tokyo and Nippon Paint Holdings.
Read the full Nippon Paint Holdings research announcement.
The work could inform future development of functional materials and coatings designed to provide antiviral performance without conventional metal-based technologies. Explore PCI coverage of Special Purpose Coatings.
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