Yehuda Borenstein | LIGC: Why settle for passive filtration when a tiny voltage can actively obliterate passing pathogens?
00:06:23 - 00:08:32
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Summary of the clip:
Can active electro-physical stimulation turn passive carbon-based filtration media into dynamic, self-sterilizing barriers against airborne pathogens?
Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has passive antifouling traits that resist bacterial colonization better than conventional polymers. Its true potential lies in its high electrical conductivity, allowing a transition from a passive barrier to an active defense system. Applying a voltage across the LIG network exerts a destructive force on biological agents, rapidly inactivating bacteria and viruses migrating through the porous structure.
Integrating this conductive carbon layer onto nonwoven polyimide substrates yields a hybrid filtration medium. While the polyimide provides mechanical filtration, the LIG layer adds dual-mode active functionality: thermal dissipation via Joule heating and low-current electrochemical pathogen inactivation. This approach allows targeted sterilization at the filter surface, mitigating the pressure drop and bioaccumulation issues of passive systems.
Optimizing these smart systems requires calibrating electrical parameters to balance energy use with antimicrobial efficacy. Characterizing the minimum current density reveals that highly efficient pathogen destruction occurs at remarkably low currents and voltages. By tailoring the sheet resistance of LIG surfaces, developers can fine-tune current density to meet specific biological abatement targets with a scalable, low-power solution.
In this short video, you can learn:
* How applying a voltage across conductive laser-induced graphene transitions it from a passive antifouling surface to an active pathogen-killing medium.
* The integration of conductive carbon layers onto nonwoven polyimide substrates to combine mechanical filtration with active electro-thermal properties.
* How to optimize bacterial inactivation using minimum current densities and low operating voltages across customized resistive surfaces.
π **Clip Abstract** The speaker explains how applying a voltage across conductive laser-induced graphene on nonwoven polyimide substrates actively destroys bacteria and viruses. He demonstrates that calibrating the current density and resistance allows for highly efficient, low-voltage pathogen inactivation on the filter surface.
π€ Speaker: Yehuda Borenstein
π’ Company: LIGC
π
Event: Graphene & 2D Materials 2021: End Users, Applications, Major Producers & Start Up 2021
π Location: TechBlick Platform Online
π Learn more at the next TechBlick event: https://www.techblick.com
#LaserInducedGraphene, #ElectrochemicalFiltration, #ElectrothermalSterilization, #BiofoulingMitigation, #PrintedElectronics, #FlexibleElectronics
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00:04:49 - 00:06:08
Can a standard CO2 laser turn common polymers into high-performance 3D graphene?
Can a standard CO2 laser turn common polymers into high-performance 3D graphene?
The synthesis of laser-induced graphene (LIG) leverages a photothermal process using a standard 10.6-micron CO2 laser. When targeting polymeric precursors like polyimide or polyether sulfone, the localized thermal energy induces rapid carbonization, converting the surface into a highly porous, three-dimensional carbon network.
Structurally, LIG deviates from ideal pristine graphene. While Raman and XRD spectroscopy confirm the clear signatures of graphene, the material is comprised of hundreds of thousands of layers featuring a high concentration of five- and seven-membered carbon rings. This structural dislocation yields a flexible, highly conductive foam with an average thickness ranging from 20 to over 200 microns.
From a commercial perspective, this roll-to-roll compatible fabrication method bypasses the expensive vacuum systems and high temperatures associated with typical chemical vapor deposition (CVD). By generating a conductive 3D structure directly on standard polymer membranes, it unlocks scalable, cost-efficient pathways for industrial-scale filtration and active electronic devices.
In this short video, you can learn:
* The exact laser parameters and polymer precursor materials required to photothermally convert substrates into 3D graphene foam.
* The unique structural properties of LIG, including its high porosity, thickness variations, and five-to-seven-membered ring defects.
* Why this high-yield, low-cost fabrication approach is key to transitioning graphene from lab-scale synthesis to commercial-scale production.
π **Clip Abstract** This clip explains the photothermal synthesis of laser-induced graphene (LIG) using a standard CO2 laser on polymer precursors. It details how the resulting porous 3D structure, characterized by structural defects and high conductivity, offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional CVD graphene.
#LaserInducedGraphene, #PhotothermalCarbonization, #GrapheneFoam, #PolyimideSubstrates, #PrintedElectronics, #FlexibleElectronics
00:11:48 - 00:13:14
How can vertical aerodynamics and 3D graphene replace physical social distancing barriers?
How can vertical aerodynamics and 3D graphene replace physical social distancing barriers?
Mitigating indoor aerosol spread requires intercepting pathogens at the point of emission rather than relying on delayed room-wide HVAC recirculation. The ViralWall device tackles this by combining localized fluid dynamics with active 3D graphene filtration in a compact tabletop form factor designed for high-interaction environments.
The device pulls contaminated air from both lateral sides through integrated LIG filters and accelerates the sterilized air vertically out through the top nozzle. This directional laminar airflow creates an invisible physical barrierβan air wallβthat effectively disrupts the direct horizontal pathway of aerosol droplets between face-to-face individuals.
This targeted, high-velocity air curtain isolates personal breathing zones without the psychological or physical friction of plastic sneeze guards. By neutralizing pathogens at the filter interface and throwing clean air upward, the system provides a highly localized, technically advanced alternative to conventional social distancing.
In this short video, you can learn:
* The aerodynamic principles behind using lateral air intake and vertical exhaust to establish an invisible protective air barrier.
* How the tabletop design intercepts and sanitizes aerosol emissions directly at the point of origin between face-to-face interactions.
* The commercial viability of replacing passive acrylic barriers with active, localized air-curtain purification systems.
π **Clip Abstract** This clip describes the design and aerodynamic function of the ViralWall, a tabletop air purifier that forms a vertical air barrier. It explains how lateral air intakes pull in contaminants through active graphene filters to prevent horizontal aerosol exchange.
#LaserInducedGraphene, #AerodynamicAirBarrier, #LaminarAirflowCurtain, #AerosolMitigation, #BiosecurityTech, #IndoorEnvironmentalQuality