Carbon nano onion (CNO) from dried grass has been synthesized by carbonization in the size range, 20 to 100 nm. This shows catalytic property to transform aerial oxygen under visible light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). A concept has been presented herein to show that this CNO even under room light generates hydrogen peroxide which inhibits WSN influenza virus (H1N1). The advantage of introducing CNO, synthesized from a cheap source to cater to the global need, is to sterilize infected hospitals indoor and outdoor, aircraft carriers, air conditioner vents due to its sustained conversion of air to ROS. Thus, CNO use could prevent frequent evacuation as used by conventional sanitisers to sterilize infected places from other RNA virus and hospital pathogens under COVID-19 pandemic. Carbon nano onion (CNO) under aerial oxygen on exposure with visible light generates ROS which is capable to rupture the lipid envelope of SARS-CoV-2 followed by disintegrating its RNA.
Keywords: COVID-19; H1N1 virus; Peroxide generator; Water-soluble CNO; catalyst.
© Indian Academy of Sciences 2022.