Alexander Buzaev, a young scientist at the TSU Faculty of Chemistry, is developing a photocatalytic coating for disinfecting indoor surfaces in hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and other institutions. A substance that forms a very thin film without color and odor will be used as a tool to protect against bacteria.
- The film-forming solution, which includes titanium dioxide and silver particles, will be the basis for the coatings, - explains Alexander Buzaev, the author of the project. - In the dark, the coating is neutral, and its disinfecting properties are turned on when exposed to light. Currently, there are analogs, but only in the form of vinyl sheets that can cover the walls or floor of the room. The spray is more advantageous because it forms films on surfaces of any geometry.
According to Alexander Buzaev, the substance that will be the basis for the spray was developed by the department New Materials for the Electrical and Chemical Industries. It is not toxic and has already been tested on various surfaces - wood, glass, and plastic. The effectiveness of the substance on bacteria is now 41%. As part of his project, the chemist plans to increase the efficiency of the solution to at least 90%. Along with this, he will work to ensure the prolonged action of the antibacterial coatings.
The finished product is intended to be used in public sector facilities where there are many people and a high risk of infection: clinic corridors, hospital emergency rooms, kindergartens, school corridors, and libraries. The spray can be applied to the walls and floor, and if necessary on the surface of tables and chairs. The finest coating, from 20 to 100 nanometers thick, will be invisible to the eye and will not dissolve in water when there is cleaning. After the expiration date, it can be washed off with an alcohol-containing liquid or a new layer can be applied without rinsing.
- With such coatings, the use of detergents can be significantly reduced or even completely abandoned, - says Alexander Buzaev. - In addition to disinfecting surfaces, the spray will also solve another problem by reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria in the air.