mobile phone screens and chicken-slathered cutting boards. Anish Tuteja, a professor at the University of Michigan, said that disinfectant cleaners can kill germs in only a minute or two, but they dissipate quickly and leave surfaces vulnerable to reinfection. "We do have long-lasting antibacterial surfaces based on metals like copper and zinc, but they take hours to kill bacteria.
This coating offers the best of both worlds," Tuteja, who is a co-corresponding author of the research published in the journal Matter, noted.
The researchers further said that the coating, which is clear and can be brushed or sprayed on, uses antimicrobial molecules extracted from tea tree oil and cinnamon oil.
Both these derivates used for centuries as safe and effective germ killers that work in under two minutes. The coating's durability comes from polyurethane, which is a tough, varnish-like sealer that is frequently used on surfaces like floors and furniture.