Antibacterial device and electrical apparatus
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antibacterial products with silver or silver oxide coatings lose their antibacterial properties over time due to the conversion of silver ions into silver sulfide, leading to reduced effectiveness and potential mold growth.
Innovation Solution
An antibacterial device is designed with a substrate, interdigital electrodes, and a protective layer that generates an electric field strength of 150 kV/m or more on its surface when a voltage is applied, effectively maintaining antibacterial properties by inhibiting germ growth through the electric field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a product is coated with a coating agent containing silver, then antibacterial properties are achieved, but the antibacterial properties decrease as the product is used for a long time due to conversion of silver ions to silver sulfide
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operating parameter from chemical (silver ions) to physical (electric field). By applying a voltage to the electrode to generate an electric field of 150 kV/m or more, the antibacterial effect is maintained through physical means rather than chemical silver ions, avoiding the degradation issue of silver sulfide formation over time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the chemical system (silver ions and silver sulfide conversion) with a physical system (electric field generation). The electrode generates an electric field that directly exerts antibacterial effects, substituting the chemical mechanism with a physical field-based mechanism that does not degrade over time
2Object-affected harmful factors
If silver ions are used for antibacterial properties, then effective germ killing is achieved, but silver ions are changed to silver sulfide by sulfur dioxide gas in the air, reducing the amount of silver ions and deteriorating antibacterial properties
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the chemical interaction system (silver ions reacting with sulfur dioxide to form silver sulfide) with a physical field system (electric field). The electric field generated by the electrode directly kills germs without involving chemical reactions with atmospheric gases, eliminating the harmful silver sulfide formation
Solution Approach 2:
The electric field acts as an intermediary between the electrode and the germs. Instead of direct chemical contact between silver ions and germs (which leads to silver sulfide formation), the electric field serves as a mediator that transmits the antibacterial effect without being consumed or degraded by atmospheric sulfur dioxide
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device achieves long-lasting antibacterial performance by consistently killing germs such as mold, reducing the risk of mold growth and maintaining effectiveness over time.
Implementation Method 1
the protective layer has an electric field strength on the second surface thereof of 150 kV/m or more when a voltage is applied to the first electrode or the second electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An antibacterial device that includes a substrate, a first electrode on the substrate, a second electrode on the substrate, and a protective layer covering the first electrode and the second electrode and having a first surface opposing of the substrate and a second surface opposite the first surface. Further, the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged such that the protective layer has an electric field strength on the second surface thereof of 150 kV/m or more when a voltage is applied to the first electrode or the second electrode.