The general aim of this proposal is to transcend the conventional water disinfection methods and their problems by developing a futuristic water disinfection approach which is chemical-free, energy-efficient, cost-effective and scalable. This method relies on the so-called irreversible electroporation in which the pathogen cell membrane is permanently permeabilized through exposure to a powerful electric field. In this project, novel nanoengineered materials with especial surface properties will be used to enhance the electric field and increase pathogen inactivation rate of the proposed water disinfection method.
