Potential of combating transmission of COVID-19 using novel self-cleaning superhydrophobic surfaces: part I—protection strategies against fomites

According to the World Health Organisation, one of the main concerns of COVID-19 virus is its tenacity to spread from droplets that either land directly on a surface or are transmitted to a surface by an infected person. In this study, we report the potential of using superhydrophobic surfaces to combat the transmission and spread of fomites infected by COVID-19 virus strand. Fomites include clothes, utensils, furniture, regularly touched objects and personal protective equipment used by Health Care Workers to act as barriers against fluid transmission and/or fluid penetration. In this effort, we propose three strategies to combat the transmission and the spread of the virus: encapsulation, contamination suppression, and elimination. We believe that this can be achieved by the use of our recently developed superhydrophobic coating and regenerative monolith to encapsulate and suppress the virus. The newly developed superhydrophobic coating and monolith are scalable, economical, and facile with the monolith capable of regeneration. The elimination of the virus will be through the use of antiviral and antibacterial copper nanoparticles or dedicated copper surfaces.