Antifungal Graphene-based Absorbers as Advanced Materials for Preventive Conservation of Cultural Objects

The development of innovative materials for preventive conservation of cultural objects against known threats, such as fungi and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that often exist in museums and galleries, is still challenging. In this work, graphene-based aerogels with an ionic liquid (IL) additive were prepared, and their anti-fungal and VOCs absorption properties were investigated. Several IL contents were evaluated and the graphene aerogel containing 10 wt.% IL was found to have the best anti-fungal activity, preventing the aerogel contamination with Aspergillus niger. When exposed to a VOC saturated micro-environment, this aerogel was highly suitable for the absorption of acetaldehyde, formic acid, acetic acid, and formaldehyde. This combined anti-fungal and VOC absorption properties are prerequisites for bringing preventive conservation to a higher level.