Photocatalytic coatings for microbial disinfection

新冠肺炎强调了公众对高流量地区高接触表面微生物传播的担忧。在交通工具、教室和电影院等人员流动率较高的地方，企业会进行清洁和消毒，以防止疾病传播，这样人们就可以放心地恢复正常生活。典型的消毒剂，如漂白剂和过氧化氢，在清洁过程中只有在微生物接触时才能有效地杀灭微生物。这个项目的目标是通过一种长期保持活性的涂层来创造连续的被动消毒，这样沉积在涂层表面的微生物就可以被灭活。与麦克雷成像公司的合作是为了开发一种与面料兼容的涂层，以及部署在座套上的类似柔软和灵活的表面。涂层的杀菌能力是基于光催化作用的。光催化剂的工作原理是在光存在的情况下打破有机键。

COVID-19 has highlighted public concern with microbial transmission in high traffic areas with high-touch surfaces. In places like transit, classrooms and movie theatres where there is a high turnover of occupants, businesses clean and disinfect to prevent spread of disease so that people can be feel comfortable in resuming their normal lives. Typical disinfectants, like bleach and peroxide, are effective at killing microbes, but only while they are in contact, during the cleaning process.The goal of this project is to create continuous passive disinfection with a coating that remains active over a long period of time, so that microbes that are deposited on coated surfaces can be deactivated. The partnership with McRae Imaging is about developing a coating that is compatible with fabrics, as well as similar soft and flexible surfaces, that are deployed on seating covers. The disinfecting ability of the coating is based on photocatalysis. Photocatalysts work by breaking organic bonds in the presence of light.