Opt for how to have windows, which do not need washing, have glass which automatically cleans up, regardless of the conditions.
Precisely that is what a group of Canadian engineers have accomplished: a self-cleaning glass surface which keeps dust, rain water, and air pollution off using nano-patterns that are smaller than a microscope across and are based on nature itself.
The Birth of Self-Cleaning Glass.
This is a type of glass that was created as a result of the work done by scientists at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto and is inspired by the surface of lotus leaves and butterflies wings, which are naturally superhydrophobic (water-repelling).
The engineers did not use chemical coating but involved nano-scale etching which involves etching billions of microscopic structures on the surface of glass to modify its physical characteristic.
These minute designs ensure that no water or dirt will stick and this turns every drop of rain into a natural cleaning solution.
The Science Behind the Magic
Look through a microscope, glass looks smooth, however at the nanoscale, it can be rough so that the interaction of light and water can be controlled.
The team succeeded in producing accurate nano ridges less than 100 nanometers effectively transforming the surface into a slippery surface with dust and water quickly sliding off.
• Dust particles are not able to stick due to low adhesion.
• Raindrops fall in rounds and slide off taking along mud.
• Pollution and oil droplets do not disseminate and leave the surface clean.
It is an all-chemical-free and all-maintenance-free and eco-friendly technology to one of the largest headaches of modern architecture keeping the glass clean.
Motivated by Nature -The Lotus Effect.
The nature usually gives the most appropriate engineering solutions. The authors examined the lotus leaves, which stay clean even in dirty water due to the presence of microstructures that keep the leaves dry and clean.
They fabricated that design with nanofabrication with laser in which the durable nano-textures are made without any external materials.
The result? Glass that does not merely appear clean it cleans itself.
Industrial uses Applications Current and potential Industrial applications.
The application of the technology in windows is just gigantic:
• Skyscrapers & Architecture: No longer scary glass-cleaning men or high-maintenance.
• Solar Panels: Maximum sunlight collection and efficiency.
• Cars: Rain and dirt-repelling windshields which automatically enhance the view.
• Smartphones & Laptops Fingerprint-resistant screens with the ability to clean themselves.
• Aerospace & Satellites: Dust resistant glass which can withstand extreme temperatures.
Innovation towards a Sustainable Planet.
The classical ways of cleaning glasses are based on the usage of chemical detergents, and a high consumption of water, which damage nature.
This nano-patterned glass will save millions of liters of water every year and decrease the amount of toxic chemicals in rivers and soil by eliminating the use of cleaning agents.
It is a little invention that carries huge implications on the environment - exactly what the world needs in terms of sustainability.
How Durable Is It?
These nano-patterns are engraved on the glass surface, unlike chemical coatings which fade away with time.
It has been tested that the material is clear, strong and self-cleaning after years of UV exposure, abrasion and changes in temperature.
This implies that the glass would take decades to break without requiring any replacements or even maintenance.
Application of Nanotechnology in Our lives.
This nanotechnology breakthrough is a good illustration of nanotechnology changing the field of materials science, by making objects smarter, cleaner, and more efficient.
This self cleaning glass demonstrates that the future of innovation is in coming up with smarter surfaces rather than more advanced equipment.
The Potential for Global Use
The dirty glass facades have become a worldwide concern with the increased pollution and urbanization.
This technology might fit to transform green building design because of manufacturing glass that does not stain and is primarily useful in cities with a lot of smog such as Delhi, Beijing and Mexico City.
It is not only about aesthetics, clean surfaces also imply the enhancement of light penetration, efficiency of energy usage, and the increased resources of the material.
From Canada to the World
The goal of Canadian engineers is to incorporate this nano-texturing technique into the glass manufacturing process itself, and therefore this technique is cheap and it has extensive availability.
It has got the potential of becoming the new building standard once commercialized just as was the case with the double-glazed glass and the solar-reflective glass several decades ago.
Beyond Clean Smart Materials to Smart Cities.
The researchers are of the opinion that this technology will contribute significantly to the smart city infrastructure whereby the materials are developed in a manner that they are self-maintaining.
Imagine cities with:
• Self cleaning buildings.
Solar farms that do not decline in efficiency.
• Car windows which remain clean in rainy seasons.
It is a nano-pattern at a time that the engineers of the future are constructing Canada.
Conclusion: Designing the Invisible Future.
Invention of the self-cleaning glass is not merely a fancy scientific experiment, but it is a sustainable step towards human invention.
With nature-inspired nanotechnology, engineers have come up with a material that remains clean, can conserve resources, and minimize environmental destruction without human intervention.
It is an evidence that not always the largest designs are the ones that can be perceived with the naked eye, but it is the tiniest ones that can change the world the most.