New nanowire mask that can eliminate pathogens

 

Research into a membrane made of titanium oxide nanowires, similar in appearance to filter paper but with antibacterial and antiviral properties.

The new material works by using the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide. In chemistry, photocatalysis is the acceleration of a photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst. In catalysed photolysis, light is absorbed by an adsorbed substrate.

When exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the fibers convert resident moisture into oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide, which have the ability to destroy pathogens.

 

 

See: Endre Horváth, Lídia Rossi, Cyprien Mercier, Caroline Lehmann, Andrzej Sienkiewicz, László Forró. Photocatalytic Nanowires‐Based Air Filter: Towards Reusable Protective Masks. Advanced Functional Materials, 2020; 2004615 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202004615

 

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)