A few days ago, a journal reported that the research group of Professor Kang Junyong and Associate Professor Yin Jun of Xiamen University has developed a high-power (3.2 W) and uniformly irradiated planar light source composed of 275nm nitride LED according to the ultraviolet light absorption characteristics of genetic material and proteins in pathogenic bacteria, which can effectively kill the new coronavirus, H1N1 influenza virus and Staphylococcus aureus within 1 second.
Fig.1 High-power deep ultraviolet planar light source. (a) Nitride solid-state light source module; (b) The wavelength of the light source module and the ultraviolet absorption characteristics of microorganisms; (c) The bactericidal effect of the light source.
It is reported that the research team used the solid-state planar light source to explore the impact of unknown factors such as virus variants and low temperature environment on the disinfection effect of DUV. Studies have found that freezing environments (e.g., minus 50 degrees Celsius) require significantly higher doses of UV radiation to achieve the same lethality at room temperature. For the first time, the research team established a large relaxation negative U model of the biophotoelectric effect to illustrate the influence of temperature factors.
The team noted that at low temperatures, there is a higher probability that the electrons excited by DUV will be recaptured by the active genetic molecule back to the initial photoionization site. It is worth noting that due to the characteristics of genetic material and proteins, Omicron requires significantly higher DUV doses to achieve the same killing effect as other strains.
Based on the measured disinfection data, the research team established the dose-response relationship between the corresponding DUV light dose and the killing effect, providing a scientific basis for relevant practitioners to quickly obtain the ultraviolet radiation dose that can effectively kill the new coronavirus at different temperatures. This has a guiding role in how DUV can be used to curb the epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia, especially under low temperature conditions (e.g., food cold chain logistics and winter open air environments).
The team pointed out that the findings of the study are of great significance for human society to use deep ultraviolet photons for disinfection under cold conditions.
