An Australian scientist is thrilled with his latest invention, which is a new surface coating that "inactivates" coronavirus on impact.

The copper-based substance essentially drains the virus of its power and can be applied on doorknobs, light switches, shopping carts, dining tables and much more.

With early indications that the coating has the ability to wipe out the virus on contact for years once applied, Dr William Ducker is now looking for commercial support to take this coating worldwide.

“This virus is a major problem and we need to take away its ability to infect a human cell,” Dr Ducker said.

“Breathing in the virus is the main thing, but we do need to be scared of touching things. If someone sneezes on a surface and you touch it and then you touch your mouth, in it goes.

“I wanted to create a coating that if the virus touches it, it will be inactivated. Working with the University of Hong Kong, we put droplets of the virus on a coated surface, then washed it off and tried to infect monkey cells – but the virus was no longer able to infect the cells after being in contact with the virus.”

He said that the tests have been outstanding, with the coating working for long periods and reducing the virus on applied surfaces by 99.9 per cent.

The coating itself is made out of cuprous oxide, which is recycled copper pipes and wires.

“It’s great, it does that all day,” he said.

“The coating will work all day.

“We think it could even last for years. Paint it on now, and we expect it will still be working this time next year.”

The coating retains its ability to inactivate the virus after multiple rounds of being exposed to COVID-19 and then disinfection or being submerged in water for a week, based on testing.

“Everybody is worried about touching objects that may have the coronavirus,” said Dr Ducker, who recalled that his wife questioned whether she should sit on a park bench during the pandemic.

“It would help people to relax a little bit.”

“People won’t have to worry as much about touching objects,” he said.

“It will be both practical and fear-reducing.”

Image credit: wsls.com