India, March 13 -- New Delhi

The Delhi government on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, to conduct a pilot study on photocatalytic "smog-eating" surfaces that could help reduce air pollutants in the Capital.

This will effectively entail coating sun-exposed surfaces with titanium dioxide (TiO2) to trigger chemical reactions to break down pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), both of which contribute to urban smog. The project, titled "Comprehensive Study on the Effectiveness of Photocatalytic Smog-Eating Surfaces, Specifically Utilizing Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) or Similar Safe Photocatalysts for Abatement of Air Pollution in D...