Portable Virus-Sniffing-Device Against Newly Emerging Viruses

Polluted indoor air has become a prime cause of increased morbidity and mortality due to infections and respiratory diseases. Most of the air purifiers in the market use HEPA technology, which can filter particles larger than 0.3 microns. Normally, this expensive technology is used in conjunction with ioniser- or ozone-generating air purifiers that produce harmful by-products, including ozone and other gases. Quantum dots are such an intelligent nanomaterial with comparable size to viruses, and their unique biological properties make them a front-runner candidate for the development of devices to sniff out the virus and kill it.

Our device, COVAPUR-AIR, is based on the easily scalable heteroatom doped quantum dots weaved on the Cu nanoparticles packed in a cannonball-type arrangement to capture the viruses. Our technology utilises these weaved quantum dots along with cellulose filters that restrict particles of all sizes from passing through.

After a long time, many countries are removing restrictions on lockdown, and humans are now more exposed to and contaminated by COVID-19. Reducing the concentration of viruses in crowded places such as public transport, hospitals, industries, offices, educational institutions, etc. is the topmost priority for any country.

COVAPUR-AIR is a well-designed device, adaptable as per the user’s requirements, that would intercept and kill the virus present in the air and provide pure, non-toxic air to breathe. The prototype will be tested for its efficiency and reusability based on the biological data. Our initial plan is to install 25 devices in the households of customers, including pregnant women, senior citizens, asthmatic patients, and other people with co-morbidities, including respiratory ailments.