Photo: UV disinfection being used to clean a laboratory (LeafenLin via iStock by Getty Images)

Tel Aviv University team behind discovery is working on self-cleaning surfaces, including laptop keyboard that kill germs with ultraviolet light every time lid is closed

by Nathan Jeffay

Israeli researchers have found a way to significantly cut the cost of COVID-19-killing ultraviolet lights, and they are working on LED-embedded surfaces that clean themselves.

“We have discovered that it’s easier than previously imagined to disinfect from corona virus using light, and we are already working on exciting applications for our findings,” Hadas Mamane, head of Tel Aviv University’s Environmental Engineering Program, told the Times of Israel.

As the world struggles to disinfect surfaces and public places, there is growing interest in the use of ultraviolet light, which has long had uses in fighting bacteria and viruses. It is not yet widespread in the corona virus fight, but has been deployed, including in transportation via light-emitting robots.

Mamane’s team has made a breakthrough it hopes will expedite its roll-out, namely finding that the desired effect can be achieved with higher-wavelength, or “less energetic” LEDs than previously believed.

Full story here.