Study shows feasibility of handheld UV COVID-19 killer

Chemicals or ultraviolet radiation exposure are two methods commonly used sanitise and disinfect areas. The UV radiation is in the 200nm to 300nm range and known to destroy COVID-19 virus. Widespread adoption of this approach requires UV radiation sources that emit sufficiently high doses of UV light. Devices with these high doses exist, but the UV radiation source is typically an expensive mercury-containing gas discharge lamp which requires high power, has a relatively short lifetime, and is bulky.

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The solution is to develop high-performance, UV light emitting diodes, which would be far more portable, long-lasting, energy efficient and environmentally benign. According to Penn State University, these LEDs exist, but applying a current to them for light emission is complicated by the fact that the electrode material has to be transparent to UV light.

"You have to ensure a sufficient UV light dose to kill all the viruses," said Roman Engel-Herbert, Penn State University associate professor of materials science, physics and chemistry. "This means you need a high-performance UV LED emitting a high intensity of UV light, which is currently limited by the transparent electrode material being used."