A new generation of compact chips could safely neutralise airborne coronavirus in buildings, vehicles and even outdoor spaces using far-UVC radiation, according to Seth Coe-Sullivan of technology company NS Nanotech.
The semiconductors, which will cost less than $200 each and can run on battery power, could play "a significant role in fighting the pandemic," said Coe-Sullivan, who is CEO and co-founder of the US nanotech company.
The potential for the technology to disinfect public and private spaces without harming people is "nearly limitless," Coe-Sullivan told Dezeen in an email interview.

Far-UVC is not a panacea, Coe-Sullivan cautioned. People should still wear masks, observe social distancing and get vaccinated. Far-UVC is most effective at close range and becomes less effective the further away the source is. "The degree of protection it offers depends on your environment," said Coe-Sullivan. "If you are sitting next to an infected person in the middle seat of an airplane who is coughing and talking without a mask on, the viral load will be heavy, and the coronavirus germs may not all be eliminated.
"But if you are sitting at your desk at work and colleagues are several feet away, it should offer a much higher degree of protection."
Coe-Sullivan said NS Nanotech has been inundated with enquiries since it first announced its far-UVC technology in December last year.
"Far-UVC disinfection should work equally well insid...