Development of Visible-Light Sensitive Self-disinfecting Virucidal Coating via Photodynamic Inactivation to Reduce the Transmission of COVID-19

冠状病毒(新冠肺炎)大流行已导致数以千计的人死亡，全球经济严重萎缩。冠状病毒可通过接触或咳嗽或打喷嚏时排放的呼吸道飞沫传播，和/或通过接触受呼吸道飞沫或分泌物污染的表面传播。因此，近几个月来，对能够杀灭细菌和病毒的“自消毒”涂层的需求激增。 在本项目中，将开发自消毒涂料，以便在可见光照射下快速、自发和连续地灭活病毒。石墨化碳氮化物是一种低成本、无毒、吸收可见光的光催化剂，具有良好的热稳定性和化学稳定性，是自消毒涂料的发展方向。该项目的成功将导致纤维素自消毒涂层的应用，这些涂层是口罩内层的关键材料，用于窗户和门把手等金属表面的钢化玻璃。我们相信，该项目的成功将有助于将新冠肺炎的传播降至最低，并有助于加拿大公司开发可作为自消毒涂料销售的产品。

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to thousands of deaths and significant economic contraction globally. Coronavirus can be transmitted via contact or respiratory droplets emitted during a cough or sneeze, and/or by touching surfaces contaminated with respiratory droplets or secretions. Therefore, demand for "self-disinfecting" coatings which can kill germs and viruses has skyrocketed in recent months. In this project, self-disinfecting coatings will be developed to inactivate viruses rapidly, spontaneously and continuously under visible light illumination. The development of self-disinfecting coatings will be based on graphitic carbon nitride, a low cost, non-toxic and visible light absorbing photocatalyst with good thermal and chemical stability. The success of this project will lead to the application of self-disinfecting coatings on cellulose, key materials for the inner layer of face masks, tempered glass used in windows and metallic surfaces such as those used in door handles. We believe the success of the project will help minimize the spread of COVID-19 as well as help Canadian companies develop products that can be marketed as self-disinfecting coatings.