Technology does the dirty on almost everything

A "smart shoe", which contains a board of chips that sense movement, was created by graduate students at National Cheng Kung University and allows users to monitor dance moves and the calories burned from the workout when used with tablets or smartphones. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

A "smart shoe", which contains a board of chips that sense movement, was created by graduate students at National Cheng Kung University and allows users to monitor dance moves and the calories burned from the workout when used with tablets or smartphones. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

Published Mar 6, 2015

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London – It sounds too good to be true – but scientists say they can make clothes that will clean themselves, windows that never mist up and kitchen counters that repel germs.

They have created a ‘self-cleaning’ coating that can be sprayed or painted on to almost any material. It is incredibly water-resistant, so any moisture that touches it instantly turns into a ball and rolls away – helpfully cleaning up any dust or germs in its path.

The idea was inspired by nature. Waxy feathers, for example, repel water, keeping a bird’s plumage clean. Lotus petals also shed moisture so rain does not harm them.

Chemists at University College London have spent years developing the substance, made using coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles. These are so tough they can survive being scrubbed with sandpaper, the team said.

A ball of cotton wool coated in the material can be dipped into blue dye and emerge pristine white, their tests show. Professor Ivan Parkin, UCL head of chemistry, said it could go on sale in two to four years, adding: ‘If we can do this as well as nature does it, we will have a series of breakthrough products.’

These could include self-cleaning paint and safer surgical equipment. It could even be used on boat hulls to reduce friction with the water and increase speed.

Daily Mail

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