The material is apparently hydrophilic, so it can absorb a lot of water. That means things like algae and gunk will fill the material, rendering it less effective.
[0] https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.adi4725
[1] https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/product/aldrich/667420
Maybe it would be better to cover with something deadly to algae. Preferably not toxic. If there are such things. Silver nanoparticles?