Sunlight catalyst breaks down PFAS

March 01, 2026

Scientists have unveiled a solar-powered catalyst capable of breaking down PFAS “forever chemicals”, marking a promising breakthrough in the fight against one of the planet’s most stubborn environmental contaminants.

An international research collaboration led by the University of Bath has engineered an innovative carbon-based photocatalyst designed specifically to degrade polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — a group of synthetic chemicals notorious for their environmental persistence.

What are PFAS and why are they dangerous?

• PFAS are widely used in everyday and industrial products, including:

• Non-stick cookware

• Waterproof and stain-resistant fabrics

• Cosmetics and personal care items

• Firefighting foams

• Industrial coatings

Their chemical structure makes them extremely resistant to heat, water, and oil — qualities that make them commercially valuable but environmentally hazardous.

Because PFAS do not naturally break down, they accumulate in:

• Rivers, lakes, and groundwater

• Agricultural soil

• Wildlife and the food chain

• Human blood and tissues

Research has linked certain PFAS compounds to increased cancer risk, hormone disruption, immune system effects, and other health concerns. However, scientists continue to study the full long-term health impacts.

Sunlight-powered PFAS breakdown technology

The newly developed system uses carbon nitride combined with a rigid microporous polymer known as PIM-1. This polymer traps PFAS molecules near the catalyst surface, allowing light energy to trigger their degradation.

When exposed to sunlight, the photocatalyst converts PFAS into:

• Carbon dioxide

• Fluoride, a far less persistent compound commonly found in toothpaste and drinking water

Unlike traditional PFAS treatment methods that require high heat or aggressive chemicals, this solar-driven process operates efficiently at neutral pH, similar to natural water systems. This makes it especially promising for environmental cleanup applications.

The research team includes scientists from:

• University of São Paulo

• University of Edinburgh

Swansea University

Dr. Fernanda C. O. L. Martins, the study’s lead author, conducted part of the research during a six-month placement at the University of Bath as part of her doctoral work at the University of São Paulo. She highlighted that combining an easily produced carbon-based catalyst with PIM-1 significantly improves PFAS degradation efficiency — particularly under environmentally realistic conditions.

Currently, the technology remains at the prototype stage, but researchers believe it could become a scalable, energy-efficient solution for PFAS water treatment.

Portable PFAS detection: a future application

Beyond remediation, this breakthrough may also lead to improved PFAS monitoring technology.

Because fluoride is released during the degradation process, scientists believe the same chemistry could power portable PFAS sensors. Instead of relying on expensive laboratory equipment, future field-based devices could measure fluoride levels as an indicator of PFAS contamination.

The project is led by Professor Frank Marken from the University of Bath’s Department of Chemistry and Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change. He notes that PFAS detection currently requires specialized lab analysis, making widespread monitoring costly and complex.

A portable, low-cost detection system could help:

• Identify PFAS contamination hotspots

• Support environmental agencies

• Assist affected communities

• Improve regulatory enforcement

The Future of PFAS remediation

The research team is now seeking industry partners to scale up and commercialize the technology. If successfully developed, this sunlight-driven catalyst could offer a dual solution:

• Efficient PFAS destruction

• Affordable environmental monitoring

With global concern growing over PFAS contamination in drinking water and ecosystems, innovations like this may play a crucial role in reducing long-term environmental and health risks.

As governments tighten regulations around PFAS chemicals, scalable green technologies could become essential tools in addressing one of the most persistent pollution challenges of the 21st century.