We're always curious about new developments in paint, particularly anything that claims to be better for the environment. So when we heard about paint that can clean the air, we wanted to dig in. Here's what we found.
The Pitch Sounds Incredible
Back in 2020, Converse teamed up with artists in 13 cities to paint massive murals using something called photocatalytic paint. Their Warsaw mural, they said, had the air-cleaning power of 780 trees. Just a big beautiful wall next to a metro station, quietly scrubbing pollution while commuters walked by.
And then there's the Torre de Especialidades, a hospital in Mexico City that's completely wrapped in photocatalytic tiles. The facade was designed by a Berlin firm called Elegant Embellishments, and the claim is that it neutralizes emissions from about 8,750 cars a day. 2,500 square meters of 3D tiles, all coated in titanium dioxide.
The science is legit. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles react to UV light and kick off a chemical process that breaks nitrogen oxides (the stuff coming out of tailpipes) into water and harmless nitrates. Rain washes it all away. The surface resets. And in theory, it just keeps going.
Where It Can Get Messy
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that the same reaction that breaks down pollutants also eats away at the paint itself. As the coating ages, it starts releasing volatile organic compounds back into the air. One of those compounds is formaldehyde. Which is carcinogenic. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles also start shedding off the surface over time.
Basically, the paint is cleaning the air and contaminating it at the same time. Whether the net result is actually positive depends on a bunch of things: UV exposure, humidity, how polluted the area is to begin with.
It sounds like a clear win until you look closer.
What's Being Worked On
Nobody's giving up on this. Nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide is showing real promise as a next-gen version. There are researchers in France and Romania experimenting with wrapping the nanoparticles in biomolecules and polymers to slow down the degradation. But none of it seems to be ready for real-world use yet.
What This Actually Means for Your Mural
The technology performs better in controlled indoor settings where you can manage UV lighting. Outdoors, exposed to weather and wear, the results are a lot less predictable. And it's definitely not a stand-in for trees or real environmental infrastructure.
If you're a business owner in LA thinking about a mural, the smartest move is still to invest in quality work that lasts. A well-done mural with proper surface prep and high-grade exterior paint will hold up for years, bring in foot traffic, and put your brand in front of people around the clock. That's a return you can actually count on. No nanoparticles needed.
We're following the research. When the science catches up to the hype, we'll be the first ones to try it on a wall.
