"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
10 Nov 2019
Often we are afraid of holding the door handles of public washrooms thinking that it might be ridden with bacteria. Researchers have said that we can catch infections like cold and flu from the door handles that have been touched by infected persons.
Now, our fears are allayed as two students of the University of Hong Kong, Sum Ming Wong and Kin Pong Li have invented door handles that can clean and sanitize itself
The chemical cleaning materials used currently for cleaning public areas are easy to wipe off and are harmful to the human body. The students claim that their design has high durability and is very effective. They combined titanium dioxide powder and ultraviolet LED lights to develop a door handle that is self-powered by a small gearbox and generator that is hooked up to the door itself. The action of opening and shutting the door generates enough kinetic energy to provide electricity to keep the handle lit and functional.
The titanium dioxide film on the outside of the handle reacts with UV lights to activate the coating which then creates hydroxyl radicals that decompose bacteria. Lab tests were conducted that showed it killed 99.8% of bacteria.
The students went on to win many tech awards and prizes for their remarkable invention. They are the finalists for the Dyson International prize which recognizes the best talent in engineering and design.
