Self-sanitizing waveguiding surfaces

A method of fabricating a self-sanitizing surface structure, the self-sanitizing surface structure comprising a waveguide;

• the waveguide comprising:
• a propagating layer having a first transverse side and a second transverse side opposite the first transverse side, the first transverse side being exposed to air and configured to selectively refract light;
• and a support layer in direct contact with the second transverse side of the propagating layer, the waveguide being configured to selectively refract about 0.01% to about 25% of the flux of an ultraviolet (UV) light injected into the propagating layer, the selective refraction occurring when a residue is on the first transverse side and at an interface between the first transverse side and the residue, the method comprising:
• attaching optical mirrors to a substrate, the optical mirrors having a height larger than that of the substrate;
• forming the propagating layer by applying an ultraviolet (UV)-transparent pre-polymer coating between the optical mirrors and curing the UV-transparent pre-polymer coating;
• attaching the support layer to the substrate;
• attaching the propagating layer to the support layer;
• and
• coupling a UV light source to an injection end of the propagating layer.