You may soon be wearing clothes made of paper that can protect you from dangerous bacteria, thanks to researchers who have invented an inexpensive and effective way to sanitise surfaces. “Paper is an ancient material, but it has unique attributes for new, high-tech applications,” said Aaron Mazzeo, an assistant professor at Rutgers University in the US. “We found that by applying high voltage to stacked sheets of metallised paper, we were able to generate plasma, which is a combination of heat, ultraviolet radiation and ozone that kill microbes,” said Mazzeo. In the future, paper-based sanitisers may be suitable for clothing that sterilises itself, devices that sanitise laboratory equipment and smart bandages to heal wounds, among other uses, researchers said. The invention consists of paper with thin layers of aluminium and hexagon/honeycomb patterns that serve as electrodes to produce the plasma, or ionised gas. (PTI)
