This paper introduces a facile approach to synthesize a nano-structured light stabilizer composed of a typical ultra-violet absorber (UVA) and graphene oxide (GO) nano-sheets. Density functional theory (DFT) studies were performed to get a deeper insight into the UVA interactions with GO surface. It was observed that UVA bound to GO sheets via physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms. For practical purposes, the fabricated light stabilizer was incorporated to polyurethane (PU) coating. The weathering performance demonstrated that a considerable improvement (3 times in weathering stability compared to blank coating or PU coating loaded with GO and UVA separately) was achieved. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.