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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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Scientists Just Created an Air Filter You Can Wash and Recharge With Sunlight

Scientists have developed a new type of air filter that can be charged using sunlight or ordinary indoor LED lights, offering a promising alternative to conventional air-purification systems. The technology could reduce the need for continuous electricity, lower maintenance requirements, and potentially make reusable air filters more practical.

The new system, described in a 2026 study published in Chem, uses light to create an electrostatic charge on the surface of a filter. This charge helps the filter capture tiny airborne particles, including particles similar in size to those found in smoke, dust, and some biological aerosols.

Researchers say the technology could eventually be incorporated into reusable face masks, indoor air-cleaning systems, outdoor filtration screens, and biological equipment.

A New Approach to Air Filtration

Most modern air purifiers rely on filters that physically trap particles as air passes through them. Some advanced systems also use an electrical process known as corona discharge.

In these systems, a high-voltage electrical field gives airborne particles an electric charge. The charged particles can then be attracted to specially designed surfaces inside the purifier.

While effective, such systems generally require an external power source. That can make them less convenient for applications where access to electricity is limited.

Other filter technologies, including triboelectric filters, can generate electrical charges through friction or contact between materials. These filters can capture fine particles, pollen, bacteria, and other pollutants, but their electrical charge can weaken over time.

The researchers behind the new technology wanted to overcome these limitations.

Their solution was a light-charged filter that can restore its electrostatic properties using light.

How the Light-Charged Filter Works

The researchers used a polypropylene membrane as the basic filtering material. They then added a special coating designed to respond to light and heat.

When exposed to light, the coating generates a persistent surface charge. This electrostatic field helps the filter attract and capture very small particles from passing air.

The researchers tested the system using sodium chloride particles and soot particles measuring approximately 0.3 micrometers, or 300 nanometers, in diameter.

The experiments were conducted under different humidity conditions, ranging from 20% to 90% relative humidity. This was important because moisture in the air can affect the performance of electrostatic filtration systems.

According to the researchers, the light-charged filter maintained strong particle-capture performance under these conditions.

The technology could therefore provide a way to combine the benefits of mechanical filtration with electrostatic particle capture—without requiring a continuously connected power supply.

It Can Be Recharged With Ordinary Light

One of the most interesting features of the technology is that it does not appear to require intense sunlight to operate.

The researchers found that overcast sunlight and relatively low-energy indoor LED lighting could provide enough energy to restore the filter's electrostatic field.

This means the system could potentially be recharged indoors, even when direct sunlight is unavailable.

That feature could make the technology useful in homes, offices, hospitals, laboratories, and other indoor environments.

It may also be particularly useful in locations where access to reliable electricity is limited.

The Filter Can Be Washed and Reused

Traditional disposable filters gradually become filled with captured particles. Once they become heavily loaded, they need to be replaced.

The new system takes a different approach.

When the filter becomes saturated with particles, researchers can flush it with water to remove the accumulated material. After washing, exposing the filter to light restores its electrostatic charge.

This creates a potentially reusable filtration cycle:

Capture particles → Wash the filter → Recharge with light → Use again.

According to the researchers, the filter could potentially be reused through hundreds of filtration cycles, with very little maintenance.

The study also reported encouraging long-term performance. After one month of use, the filter retained about 99% of its maximum filtration efficiency, followed by approximately 95% during the next two months.

These results suggest that the material could maintain its performance over extended periods, although further testing will be needed before the technology can be considered ready for widespread commercial use.

Could It Lead to Reusable N95-Style Masks?

One potential application receiving particular attention is personal protective equipment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, N95 respirators became widely used because of their ability to filter very small airborne particles. However, conventional respirators are generally designed as disposable or limited-use products, depending on their design and conditions of use.

The researchers suggest that their light-charged technology could eventually be incorporated into reusable masks designed to provide N95- or N99-level filtration performance.

A reusable filter that could be washed and then recharged with light could reduce the amount of waste associated with disposable filtration products.

However, it is important to distinguish between laboratory filtration performance and a commercially certified respiratory protective device. A future mask would need to undergo extensive testing for filtration efficiency, airflow resistance, fit, durability, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Potential Uses Beyond Face Masks

The researchers believe the technology could have applications far beyond personal masks.

Possible uses include indoor air purification, dust removal, health and hygiene equipment, outdoor filtration screens, and biological apparatus.

For example, a light-charged filter could potentially be incorporated into an air-cleaning device that uses very little electricity. In some applications, natural daylight could provide the energy needed to maintain the filter's charge.

The technology could also be useful in specialized environments where conventional electrically powered filtration systems are difficult to operate.

Challenges Still Remain

Despite the promising results, the technology is still at the research and prototype stage.

One challenge is improving the self-cleaning process. Washing removes captured particles, but researchers say this part of the system could still be improved.

Another major question is whether the technology can be mass-produced economically.

Laboratory prototypes can demonstrate impressive performance, but manufacturing millions of filters requires consistent materials, reliable production methods, reasonable costs, and long-term durability.

Researchers will also need to test how the filter performs under real-world conditions for longer periods and with a wider range of pollutants.

A Step Toward More Sustainable Filtration

The research represents an interesting direction for air-cleaning technology. Instead of depending entirely on external electricity or disposable filter materials, the new approach combines light, electrostatic charging, washable materials, and reusable filtration.

If future studies confirm its durability, safety, cost-effectiveness, and performance in real-world environments, light-charged filters could eventually become useful in everything from reusable protective masks to household and industrial air-cleaning systems.

The researchers say their future work will focus on bringing the technology closer to practical applications and exploring ways to use light-powered air purification in extreme environments.

For now, the technology remains under development. But the idea of a filter that can capture pollutants, be washed clean, and regain its filtering ability simply by exposure to light offers a promising glimpse of how next-generation air purification could become more reusable and energy-efficient.

Reference: Qifei Wang et al., "Sustainable air purification via light-charged filters, Chem (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2026.103261.

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