NSF RAPID Grant. Superhydrophobicity will help to fight Covid-19 (hopefully)

Our new grant from the NSF “RAPID: Superhydrophobic and Photocatalytic Antimicrobial (SPA) Coatings” The PI: Prof. Konstantin Sobolev, coPIs: M. Nosonovsky, N. Kouklin, D. Frick. Superhydrophobicity is not only self-cleaning, but also anti-bacterial. We will investigate anti-viral properties as well including how a droplet dries on a superhydrophobic or photocatalitic surface and how this could affect coronavirus survival.

While I am not a big fan of the NSF as many people know (and I consider ethically questionable accepting money from the current administration due to numerous instances of lying on various issues from buying Greenland to Stormy Daniels), the NSF is still a very influential organization and being approved by the NSF is considered in America a sign of excellent scientific work. So, thank you, NSF!

The structure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19 involves a lipid bilayer membrane (a liposome self-assembled by entropic hydrophobic forces and a protein capsid.

NSF funds UWM research on repelling, deactivating COVID-19 virus on surfaces

RAPID: Superhydrophobic and Photocatalytic Antimicrobial (SPA) Coatings