Eco Factor: Dust-repellent nano-coating developed by researchers at Tel Aviv University.
While attempting to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, researchers at Tel Aviv University have accidentally discovered a new nano-material that can repel dust and water and could give rise to self-cleaning skyscraper windows and highly efficient solar panels.
Using a variety of peptides, the researcher found a novel way to control atoms and molecules of peptides so that they can grow to resemble small forests of grass. These peptides can be used to create self-assembling nano-tubules in vacuum under high temperatures.
These nano-tubules can withstand high temperatures and are resistant to water and dust, which makes them ideal for use in skyscraper windows that could never need manual cleaning. The researchers also opine that if used in solar panels, the coating could better their efficiency by up to 30%, by preventing dust particles from accumulating on the surface.
Via: Gizmag
