Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major contributors to air pollution, posing significant environmental and health risks. Here we report gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃)-coated mesh as a practical immobilized photocatalyst for VOC degradation under UVC irradiation. A 3 wt.% Ga₂O₃ suspension was spray-coated onto the stainless-steel mesh, yielding a uniform coating with strong adhesion properties, as confirmed by cross-sectional analysis. Under identical conditions to a Ga₂O₃ powder, the Ga₂O₃-coated mesh delivered comparable VOC degradation rates and first-order kinetics while offering superior mechanical stability and ease of handling. Over five consecutive cycles, 93–95% of the VOC degradation efficiency was retained with negligible loss of activity, confirming excellent reusability. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of the Ga₂O₃-coated mesh after degradation reaction revealed significantly reduced VOC peaks, such as C=O and C-O absorption peaks, whereas spectra for the uncoated mesh changed only slightly. These results indicate that VOC degradation originates from the coated photocatalyst. Overall, these findings demonstrate that Ga₂O₃-coated mesh is a highly efficient, stable, and reusable platform for VOC removal, suggesting its potential for practical applications in air purification and environmental remediation.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde, are hazardous air pollutants that require efficient and sustainable mitigation strategies. Photocatalytic degradation of VOCs offers a promising pathway; however, its performance is strongly influenced by multiple operational parameters. Here, we present a systematic investigation of toluene degradation under ultraviolet-C (UVC) irradiation across controlled temperatures using Ga₂O₃ as a photocatalyst. A comprehensive analysis revealed that elevated temperatures enhanced photocatalytic activity by accelerating chemical reaction rates. However, further temperature increases led to a decrease in performance due to a reduction in the reactant adsorption rate. An optimal operating temperature was identified, at which the balance between chemical reaction rates and reactant adsorption yields the highest degradation efficiency. These findings demonstrate Ga₂O₃ as a promising photocatalyst and provide fundamental insights into the temperature-dependent photocatalytic mechanisms governing VOC removal in practical environmental applications.