There is provided an air treatment apparatus comprising a body, an air flow generator housed within the body that is arranged to generate an air flow, an evaporator assembly removably disposed within the body and that is arranged to introduce water vapour into the air flow, and a water supply system that is arranged to provide water to the evaporator assembly. The water supply system comprises a water tank assembly that is separable from the body, the water tank assembly comprising a water tank having a tank opening. The tank opening is configured to allow the evaporator assembly to fit through the tank opening and the evaporator assembly is configured to fit within an interior volume of the water tank.

A yarn that includes a fiber that generates a potential on a surface thereof by energy from the outside; and a grounded conductive core material covered with the fiber. The yarn generates a potential of 0.1 V or more on a surface thereof when measured under the following conditions: the yarn is stretched by a predetermined amount in a uniaxial direction; and the potential is measured with an electric force microscope.

An antimicrobial envelope made of a soft, pliable and stretchable fabric and shaped and dimensioned to accept and snugly hold a cell phone of a range of sizes and configured to effect antimicrobial action. A flat, rectangular envelope has two overlapping layers of fabric joined at two longer sides and one shorter side and open at the remaining shorter side, and is made of a material that is stretchable to change length and width to snugly accept devices such as a cell phone and is enhanced with a metal or metal compound having antimicrobial properties. The material is sufficiently soft and pliable to avoid or reduce scratching of the device and to maintain therewith for antibacterial action even into depressions therein.

An animal leather fiber bundle, yarn, core-spun yarn and products with nanoscale branches is disclosed. The animal leather fiber bundle with nanoscale branches has an animal leather fiber body, which is a spinnable animal leather fiber body. The animal leather fiber body has nanoscale branches, the yarn is formed of animal leather fiber bundles with nanoscale branches, the core-spun yarn has a core yarn and a skin layer, the skin layer has animal leather fiber bundles with nanoscale branches, and the product is made of any one of the above. The disclosed structure has independent and separated nanoscale branches.

A polymeric yarn composition having antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties includes: (i) an herbal masterbatch in a range of 0.01% w/w to 10% w/w, and (ii) a base polymer in a range of 90% w/w to 99.99% w/w. The base polymer may include one of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or polyamides, or polypropylene. Further, the herbal masterbatch may include: (a) an herbal component includes Neem or Turmeric or combination thereof in a range of 1% w/w to 75% w/w, and (b) a carrier polymer in a range of 25% w/w to 99% w/w. The carrier polymer may same as the base polymer and may include one of: PBT, PET, polyamides or polypropylene. To make a polymeric yarn, the herbal masterbatch and the base polymer may be melted and extruded together to obtain the polymeric yarn having the herbal component in a range of 0.01% to 10% in weight of the polymeric yarn.

A piezoelectric thread that includes a core thread; and a piezoelectric film wound around the core thread. The piezoelectric thread is constructed to generate a charge by energy imparted from outside of the piezoelectric thread.

An antibacterial mask that includes a filter portion having a first layer and a second layer, and at least one of the first layer and the second layer include a plurality of first piezoelectric yarns that generate at least a first charge by stretching.

A nonwoven member that includes a plurality of piezoelectric fibers. The nonwoven member is formed into a cloth by intertwining the plurality of piezoelectric fibers. The nonwoven member inhibits the growth of bacteria due to an electric charge generated when an external force is applied to the piezoelectric fibers.

An antibacterial mask that includes a filter portion having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite the first principal surface, the filter portion including a plurality of first piezoelectric yarns that generate at least a first charge by stretching.

A carbon nanowire contains a photocatalytic metal-organic framework (MOF) in the form of a nanoparticle. Methods herein may produce a nanowire, fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, products, etc. containing such a nanowire, and/or the MOF having antibacterial and/or pathogenic efficacy upon irradiation.