Self-Cleaning Surfaces

Researchers in Germany recently discovered that incorporating a coating of titanium dioxide molecules onto a variety of surfaces makes them self-cleaning, a characteristic that could be very useful for smartphones and other hand-held devices.

In its current form, the cleaning action is triggered by exposing the surface to sunlight. This activates an electrochemical reaction to produce free radicals and other active molecules that destroy organisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae by penetrating the cells walls and damaging their DNA.

The coating has been tested on a variety of surfaces inside and outside the lab, and work is already underway to incorporate the technology into paints and window coatings for building exteriors. But a more interesting application may be as a coating for smartphone screens that would make fingerprints disappear automatically. The next step will be to perfect a similar material that works as well in artificial lighting.