Triboelectrification induced self-powered microbial disinfection using nanowire-enhanced localized electric field

Abstract Air-transmitted pathogens may lead to severe epidemics (e.g., COVID-19) showing huge threats to public health. Inactivation of the pathogenic microbes in the air is an essential process, whereas the feasibility of existing air disinfection technologies has encountered obstacles including only achieving physical separation but no inactivation, obvious pressure drops, and energy intensiveness. Here we report a rapid disinfection method for inactivating air-transmitted bacteria and viruses using the nanowire-enhanced localized electric field to damage the outer structures of microbes. This air disinfection system is driven by a triboelectric nanogenerator that converts mechanical vibration to electricity effectively and achieves self-powered. Assisted by a rational design for the accelerated charging and trapping of microbes, this self-powered air disinfection system promotes the microbial transport and achieves high performance: >99.99% microbial inactivation within 0.025s in a fast airflow (2 m/s) while only causing low pressure drops (<24 Pa). This rapid, self-powered air disinfection method may fill the urgent need for the air-transmitted microbial inactivation to protect public health.