The future’s bright, the future is self-washing windows

A window that washes itself and self-cleaning solar panels could be just two of the innovations we see in the future to make maintenance and cleaning more efficient.

What originally started as an attempt to find a new cure for Alzheimer’s disease led to the discovery of a self-cleaning coating able to repel dust and water from the surface.  Researchers at Tel Aviv University are able to control the atoms and molecules of peptides so they grow to resemble ‘peptide forests’.  These self-assembled nano-tubules were created in a vacuum under high pressure, are water-resistant and able to withstand extreme heat.

 “We are not manufacturing the actual material but developing a basic-science technology that could lead to self-cleaning windows and more efficient energy storage devices in just a few years, “ said Lihi Adler-Abramovich, a graduate student working in a team working under Professor Ehud Gazit in the department of molecular microbiology and biotechnology.

This technology could be used to improve the efficiency of solar energy panels, particularly in dusty deserts where most solar farms are found.  Rainshowers would pull away any dust and dirt that has accumulated - improving the efficiency of the panel - and money can be saved on maintenance and cleaning.  Similarly, sealed outer windows of skyscrapers would never need to be washed again as the material can repel the rainwater and carry off any dust and dirt it picks up on the way. 

The nano-tech material also has potential uses in the automotive industry.  As a capacitor with an unusually high energy density, it could give existing car batteries a boost necessary to start an electric car, go up a hill or overtake other cars, overcoming the current thrust problem associated with electric cars.