Publication date: 15th December 2025
Airborne transmission of pathogens has emerged as a major public health concern amid recurring pandemics. Although conventional air filtration can physically capture bioaerosols, it carries the risk of pathogen re-emission, highlighting the need for long-term air sterilization strategies. Here, we report a photo-regenerable antimicrobial air filter by grafting Cu clusters onto a titanium dioxide nanotube mesh (CuxO/mTNT, 1 < x < 2). The in situ–grown TiO₂ nanotube mesh provides a high surface area, while uniformly dispersed Cu clusters enable enhanced antimicrobial activity. The filter achieved rapid inactivation of Gram-negative Escherichia coli (4.80-log reduction), Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (2.58-log reduction), and respiratory viruses, including Influenza A virus (H1N1) and human coronavirus 229E, within minutes.
While Cu-based nanomaterials exhibit strong antimicrobial activity via direct contact, their efficacy typically diminishes due to the oxidation of Cu(I) to Cu(II). When Cu clusters are grafted onto TiO₂, interfacial charge transfer (IFCT) enables visible-light absorption and continuous charge carrier generation, facilitating the regeneration of Cu(I) species under mild visible light irradiation. As a result, the CuxO/mTNT filter maintains sustained antimicrobial performance through reversible photo-regeneration. Integrated into a commercial air purifier, the filter demonstrated efficient bioaerosol disinfection, stable photo-regeneration over 10 cycles, and durability exceeding six months. Field tests further confirmed effective space disinfection, whereas conventional filtration-based filters retained viable microbial residues, potentially posing risks to human health.
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