• Velioglu, Basak
• Kavakli, Ibrahim Halil
• Gul, Seref
• Malik, Anjum
• Khan, Shaheryar A.
• Lazoglu, Ismail

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Smart materials are ushering in the era of smart and adaptable products. Hydrogels are a distinct class of smart materials that can be 3D-printed to produce smart and active structures that can be used as sensors and actuators. The development and characterization of a 3D-printable and electrically conductive composite hydrogel, as well as its application in the development of a smart disinfection system, are discussed in this article. The developed composite hydrogel has a maximum electrical conductivity of 145 S.m<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>, is stable up to 200 °C, and has a 3D printable rheology. Virtuous of its electrical conductivity, the composite hydrogel was used to create a smart disinfection system. Various disinfection systems have been adopted for the disinfection of contaminated surfaces; however, most of these systems require human evacuation from the surroundings due to the hazardous nature of the virucide. The proposed system is designed to disinfect contaminated surfaces on common-use equipment and is capable of real-time activation through user interaction. It employs a thermal disinfection process at 60 °C for 5 min and becomes ready for the next user once its temperature drops below 55 °C. This system consumes 1.64 Wh of energy per disinfection cycle and is suitable for scenarios with fewer than 60 user interactions in an 8-h work shift.</jats:p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• surface
• composite
• activation
• electrical conductivity