Patent Application
20070267013
In order to make the structure and characteristics as well as the effectiveness of the present invention to be further understood and recognized, the detailed description of the present invention is provided as follows along with preferred embodiments and accompanying figures.
Because surface electrons on the first sterilizing layer 10 can absorb sufficient energy to escape when the first sterilizing layer 10 is illuminated by external light, no matter ultraviolet light or visible light, holes will be formed on the locations from which the electrons escape. The holes will oxidize (that is, capture the electrons thereof) hydroxyl group (OH—) that is ionized from neighboring water molecules and make the OH— become very active hydroxyl free radicals. When the hydroxyl free radicals meet organic materials, they will capture the electrons back, and the organic molecules will break, disintegrate, and decompose. Most of common pollutions or pathogens are carbohydrates, which will mostly become non-harmful water and carbon dioxide, and thereby the purposes of decontamination and sterilization can be achieved. The material of the first sterilizing layer 10 is chosen from the group consisting of TiO2, ZnO, SnO2, ZrO2, CdS, ZnS, and sulfides.
Furthermore, because the second sterilizing layer 20 cannot be illuminated by visible light or ultraviolet light, the material thereof cannot be chosen as the same material as the first sterilizing layer 10. The material of the second sterilizing layer 20 is chosen from chitin or silver ions. In addition, according to types of germs carried by users, the material of the second sterilizing layer 20 is different.
Chitin is a copious natural resource. It is manufactured using biosynthesis by one billion tons each year, and is the most abundant natural organic matter second to cellulose on earth. The structure of chitin is very similar to cellulose. It is a natural polysaccharide, and is named as (1,4)-2-acetamino-2-deoxy-β-D-glucose. Chitin has the biological functions of collagen in tissues of higher-grade animals, and of cellulose in tissues of higher-grade plants, thereby it has fine adaptation for both animals and plants. In addition, it is biologically degradable and oral non-poisonous. Thereby, nowadays, it has become a new material with wide applications. Chitosan is the product of chitin after deacetylation treatment, and is solvable in solutions with low acidity. Because it contains ionized amine group to combine with acid molecules, it has many special physical and chemical properties, as well as exceptional biological functions. Chitosan is the most important derivative of chitin and is the product of chitin after deacetylation above 70%. It is, so far, the only natural alkaline polysaccharide with the properties of non-toxicity, biological degradability, and good biological compatibility. Chitin can eliminate over 99% of pathogenic toxicity, and will not produce antibodies and cause allergic reactions. In addition, it also has the properties of moisture holding and non-toxicity.
The sterilizing mechanism of silver is when nanometer silver approaches virus, fungus, bacteria, or bacteriophage, it will cause their protein enzyme, which is responsible for oxygen metabolism, decompose and lose its effect. Hence, the virus, fungus, bacteria, or bacteriophage cannot carry out normal oxygen metabolism and thereby will die naturally.
Accordingly, the present invention conforms to the legal requirements owing to its novelty, unobviousness, and utility. However, the foregoing description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, not used to limit the scope and range of the present invention. Those equivalent changes or modifications made according to the shape, structure, feature, or spirit described in the claims of the present invention are included in the appended claims of the present invention.
