Bulletin of ANPA

Abstract submitted to ANPA Conference July 14–16, 2023

Volume 5, Number 1

Applied and Engineering Physics

Abstract ID: ANPA2023-N0003

Abstract:

ANPA2023-N0003: Cost-effective III-Nitride Quantum Wells-Based UV-C LEDs for Microbial Disinfection—Wavelength Optimization and Solar Cell Integration

Authors:

• Trailokya Bhattarai; UNC Charlotte

• M. Yasin Akhtar Raja; UNC Charlotte

• Abasifreke Ebong;

Title: Cost-effective III-Nitride Quantum Wells-Based UV-C LEDs for Microbial Disinfection—Wavelength Optimization and Solar Cell Integration Trailokya Bhattarai1, M. Yasin Akhtar Raja2, and Abasifreke Ebong1 1Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and 2Center for Optoelectronics & Optical Communication, University of North Carolina Charlotte, NC 28223 Corresponding Email: tbhattar@uncc.edu Abstract: UV-C is known to be the most effective category of UV- Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for deactivating microbes and viruses. This study focuses on the design and testing of a cost-effective III-Nitride quantum wells-based UV-C LEDs in the spectral range (200 nm < λ ˂ 300 nm) for microbial disinfection. Our research objective is to determine the most effective UV-LED wavelength, dose, and exposure time for deactivating a variety of microorganisms and to develop a cutting-edge UV LED disinfection system powered by solar energy. Four prototypes of UV-C LEDs sub-systems with wavelengths range of 255 nm, 265 nm, 275 nm, and 285 nm are designed and are under rigorous testing for effectiveness. This study explores the effects of UV-C exposure on the DNA/RNA of the pathogens before and after exposure to the UV dose. The qPCR/Cell culture methods are applied for quantitative as well as qualitative analysis of the effectiveness of UV irradiation on the deactivation of microbes. Preliminary results for bacteriophages, Phi6 and MS2 are presented, and further testing on other microbes is underway. The results of this research could provide valuable insights for the development of sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions to fight against the spread of infectious diseases. By developing cost-effective and efficient solar-powered UV-C LED systems, the study offers a potential solution for deactivating pathogens in a sustainable and energy-efficient manner. Preliminary results and findings will be presented with the scope of future work. Keywords: Quantum Wells, UV-C LEDs, microbial disinfection, Cell Culture/qPCR, UV dose, solar-powered UV LED

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: https://anpaglobal.org/conference/2023/ANPA2023-N0003