Photocatalytic and photo(electro)catalytic approaches for viral decontamination

A decontamination system, comprising:

• a first surface;
• a decontamination layer, wherein the decontamination layer disposed on the first surface, wherein the decontamination layer comprises a nanostructured photocatalyst, wherein the nanostructured photocatalyst comprises:
• nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanorods, nanowires, or any combination thereof, wherein the nanostructured photocatalyst comprises:
• a metal oxide selected from strontium titanate (SrTiO3), titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), or any combination thereof, wherein the nanostructured photocatalyst has a bandgap of 3 eV or greater, wherein the decontamination layer comprises an electrically-conductive additive, and wherein the electrically-conductive additive comprises:
• graphene, graphene oxide, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), or any combination thereof;
• a voltage source, wherein the voltage source is electrically coupled to the decontamination layer;
• an interdigitated electrode array, wherein the interdigitated electrode array is electrically coupled to the voltage source, wherein the interdigitated electrode array comprises a positive electrode with a plurality of first fingers extending therefrom and a negative electrode with a plurality of second fingers extending therefrom, wherein the first fingers and the second fingers are alternately disposed with each other, such that each first finger is disposed between a pair of adjacent second fingers, except for the fingers at an end of the array, wherein the nanostructured photocatalyst is disposed within gaps between the fingers and electrodes, and wherein the interdigitated electrode is disposed on the decontamination layer, under the decontamination layer, or within the decontamination laver;
• and
• an illumination source, wherein the illumination source is selected from the list:
• a halogen lamp, incandescent bulb, laser, laser diode, light emitting diode, UV lamp, and fluorescent lamp, wherein the illumination source generates UV radiation or visible light, and wherein the illumination source is configured to irradiate the decontamination layer, and wherein the first surface of the decontamination system is configured such that human coronaviruses circulating in air processed by the decontamination system are incident on the decontamination layer.