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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Technology for sterilizing medical instruments goes solar

A sunlight-powered device equipped with an a lightweight gel makes steam hot enough to kill dangerous microbes.
A solar collecting device with mirrors around a central core, framed against a blue sky.

A copper collecting plate (long central structure) paired with a transparent, heat-trapping material (white strip, top) harvests enough solar heat to make steam. Credit: Lin Zhao

An airy insulating material doubles the efficiency of a device that converts sunshine to heat, enabling solar-powered production of steam suitable for sterilizing medical equipment.

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Nature 587, 525 (2020)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-03278-1

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