Resilient energy-efficient lasting intelligent co2-reducing (RELIC) coatings
RELIC coatings integrate photocatalysts to reduce harmful air pollutants and black carbon on rooftops, enhancing energy efficiency and lowering maintenance. They restore solar reflectance and reduce heat load, offering cleaner air and efficient buildings.
Overview
Resilient Energy-efficient Lasting Intelligent CO2-reducing (RELIC) coatings are innovative photocatalytic solutions designed to enhance the energy efficiency and longevity of roofing systems. By incorporating photocatalysts such as titanium dioxide, these coatings actively break down harmful air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, while removing dark particulate matter like black carbon. This dual action not only improves air quality but also reduces the heat load on buildings by restoring their solar reflectance, leading to lower energy costs and maintenance needs.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Photocatalytic Action: Utilizes sunlight to activate the breakdown of pollutants and black carbon.
- Heat Load Reduction: Demonstrated to lower inner surface temperatures by over 5°C and reduce heat burden by more than 50% within 300 hours of solar exposure.
- Self-cleaning Effect: Reduces the labor-intensive need for traditional cleaning methods by restoring reflectivity and aesthetics.
- Compatibility: Designed for application on single-ply roofing membranes such as EPDM, TPO, and PVC.
- Pollutant Removal Efficiency: Effective against common urban pollutants, contributing to a cleaner urban environment.
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at TRL 5, indicating that it has been validated in a relevant environment. Future validation plans include further testing on single-ply membranes and real-world applications to assess pollutant removal, heat reduction, durability, and life-cycle costs.
About Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a major public land‑grant research university with a comprehensive academic portfolio and a large research enterprise. Industry partners engage through an on‑campus U.S. Department of Energy national user facility and shared core laboratories with user access. The university provides a chemical process scale‑up pilot plant on Michigan’s lakeshore, a research and technology park, and a Grand Rapids health innovation campus linking researchers with clinical partners. A statewide extension network supports field deployment and workforce training across Michigan’s manufacturing corridor. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from NSF, NIH, DOE, USDA, and DoD, while dedicated tech transfer and corporate engagement teams—supported by an affiliated research foundation—accelerate IP, licensing, startups, and sponsored research.
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