Two Chinese Students Invent Door Handle With Self-Sanitizing Ability

Some people say that genius things are actually quite simple. What it takes is basically a bit of knowledge mixed with a good idea. That’s exactly what happened with these two teens from China.

18-year-old Kin Pong and 17-year-old Summing were doing research on titanium dioxide’s chemical properties when they realized this substance could be used for basic items like a doorknob. What it could do could really change people’s lives.

This is not any ordinary door handle because it is capable of sanitizing itself using light.

The pair figured out that titanium dioxide works really well in terms of killing bacteria and thought of grinding it into a fine powder. The two also noticed that the substance works even better when it is exposed to UV light. And they have come up with a simple product that can make the most of their discovery.

Door handles are of the most bacteria-containing places. Knowing that the duo designed a door handle made of a glass tube with two ends sealed with little aluminum caps. The glass tube is covered with the aforementioned titanium dioxide powder.

A coating of photocatalytic is also used to cover the door handle, which means that light will trigger the chemical reaction.

The pair explained their invention, saying,

The bacteria on the doorknob will be killed once the UV light activates the chemical reaction. Summing and Pong said that their inspiration came after the 2003 outbreak infecting over 8,000 people. In China, 700 people died because of illness.

The invention made it to the list of the 2019 James Dyson Awards.