Is a Permanently Sterile Surface Possible with Chemical Coating Technology?

[Will]

I am in a materials science class and need to come up with a course project. One thing that interested me was in an article that I read in the paper a while back. It was about the development of some kind of coating that could be applied to surface that could render it permanently sterile. I think it worked by reacting with the cell membrane of a microbe, destroying it and killing the pathogen. I also thought I remember reading that this coating could not be washed or chipped off, like it was chemically bonded to the surface or something.
Any additional resources, links or information would be greatly appreciated!

Will

 

[Bystander]

Search "titanium (oxide) ceramic(s) + uv."

 

[radagast]

While 'antiseptic' is possible, I don't see sterile as possible. Sterile means 'completely without life', therefore you would have to account for 'hard pathogens' such as baccilus and clostridium spores, mold spores, and mycobacterium. All of which are hard to kill and do not have a cell membrane (except for mycobacterium and that is more of a waxy membrane).