The lack of effective sterilization processes in the medical practices in third world countries increases the risk of transmitting diseases. Modern medical facilities use autoclave systems to sterilize medical instruments and equipment that contain harmful contagions, but the power required to operate the autoclave is not always available in developing nations. One promising technology that could address the lack of a reliable electric grid in developing regions is solar power. A custom-built portable solar-autoclave system generates high pressure/temperature steam that successfully destroyed Geobacillus stearothermophilus bacteria. Unique coral gold plasmonic particles were developed and used in the solar-powered autoclave to harvest a broad range of the solar spectrum.

Solar autoclave based on steam generation using broadband light-harvesting nanoparticles

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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