Self-disinfecting antiviral filter material, manufacturing and use thereof, and air filter device with the filter material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air filter materials lack effective antiviral properties, are difficult to produce, and have issues with mechanical stability, light stability, and efficiency in virus inactivation, particularly when used in breathing masks or air purification devices.
Innovation Solution
A self-disinfecting antiviral filter material with an air-permeable carrier and a composite coating comprising a color pigment with antiviral activity and an inorganic matrix material, where the pigment forms reactive singlet oxygen upon exposure to visible light and atmospheric oxygen, enhancing mechanical stability and virus inactivation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unsubstituted phthalocyanines are used as antiviral pigments, then high light stability and singlet oxygen generation are achieved, but the pigments are insoluble in conventional solvents making coating impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inorganic matrix material as an intermediary carrier that can accommodate insoluble phthalocyanine pigments. The matrix material provides a interface that allows the insoluble pigments to be applied to the filter carrier surface without requiring solution coating, thus resolving the contradiction between light stability (maintained by using unsubstituted phthalocyanines) and coating processability.
2Ease of manufacture
If solubilizing cationic ammonium groups are introduced into phthalocyanines, then coating from solution becomes possible, but slow diffusion (bleeding) occurs in the presence of moist air and synthesis becomes extremely complex
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic matrix material serves as a mediator that eliminates the need for solubilizing groups. By providing a solid support structure, the matrix allows direct deposition of phthalocyanine pigments without requiring them to be dissolved, thus preventing diffusion and bleeding while simplifying the synthesis process.
3Ease of manufacture
If phthalocyanines with solubilizing anionic sulphonic acid or carboxylic acid groups are used, then coating from solution is enabled, but synthesis remains extremely complex and diffusion issues persist
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic matrix material provides an alternative approach by serving as a solid support that eliminates the need for complex solubilizing groups. This intermediary structure allows simple deposition processes while maintaining pigment stability, thereby reducing both synthesis complexity and diffusion problems.
4Reliability
If grafting of phthalocyanine dyes with reactive groups is performed to form chemical linkage with carrier, then coating stability is improved, but high process and synthesis effort is required and carrier selection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic matrix material acts as an intermediary that simplifies the attachment process. Instead of requiring complex grafting reactions between phthalocyanine dyes and the carrier, the matrix material provides a ready-made support structure that can accommodate the pigments through simpler deposition methods, thereby reducing process effort while maintaining stability.
5Stability of the object's composition
If metal phthalocyanines are incorporated into polymers, then coating without diffusion is achieved, but singlet oxygen formation efficiency is very low because only surface dye molecules can react
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous inorganic matrix material that allows atmospheric oxygen to penetrate throughout the structure. This porous architecture enables phthalocyanine pigment molecules distributed within the matrix to all access oxygen and generate singlet oxygen, overcoming the limitation of polymer incorporation where only surface molecules are active. The porous structure thus maintains coating stability while dramatically improving singlet oxygen formation efficiency.
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 filter material effectively inactivates viruses by forming reactive singlet oxygen, providing continuous self-disinfection and disinfection of air passing through it, with improved mechanical stability and ease of production, suitable for use in breathing masks and air purification devices.
Implementation Method 1
dyes that sensitize the formation of reactive, germicidal singlet oxygen through visible light and atmospheric oxygen
Implementation Method 2
phthalocyanines are of particular interest as suitable sensitizer dyes for use in filter materials, due to their broad absorption in the visible spectral range, their high light stability and their high quantum yields of singlet oxygen generation
Data Source
AI summary
A self-disinfecting antiviral filter material 10 includes an air-permeable carrier 11 and a composite coating 12 including at least one color pigment 13 with antiviral activity and an inorganic matrix material 14 bonded to the carrier 11. The at least one color pigment 13 preferably includes at least one compound from the group of phthalocyanines. The matrix material is preferably selected from the group including metal oxides. An air filter device including the self-disinfecting antiviral filter material, a method of manufacturing the filter material, and a method of inactivating viruses are also described.