Patent ID: 7635450
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: A61L,B01D,B64D,F24F,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A method for disinfecting surfaces, comprising the steps of: providing a surface including a photocatalyst layer comprising a plurality of photocatalyst particles secured to said surface for photogenerating electrons and holes, said photocatalyst layer having a top and a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface is secured to said surface; contacting an electrically conducting layer to said photocatalyst layer, wherein said electrically conducting layer is disposed on and in electrical contact said photocatalyst layer; illuminating said photocatalyst layer with a source of photons having a wavelength corresponding to at least a band gap energy of said photocatalyst, wherein incident light from said source of photons is transmitted by said electrically conductive layer to said top surface of said photocatalyst layer to produce photogenerated electrons and holes, and removing a portion of said photogenerated electrons generated via said electrically conductive layer, wherein an electron-hole recombination rate involving said photogenerated electrons and holes is reduced increasing a removal rate of microorganisms or chemical contaminants from said surface.