A coating made up of protein nanotubes could someday be used to make windows self-cleaning. The tiny structures are made up of peptides – simple molecules that are inexpensive and easy to produce. When placed in a vacuum under high temperatures, they self-assemble into “forests” of grass-like tubes that repel water and dust.
As a coating for skyscraper windows, it would eliminate the need for cleaning, since rain would easily wash away any residual dirt without a trace. Solar panels would also benefit greatly from such a coating, as efficiency is reduced when they become dirty.
The “peptide forests” also have an unusually high energy density, which could be used to develop high-power rechargeable batteries for electric cars.
For information: www.tau.ac.il/index-eng.html
Tags: peptides, Protein Nanotubes, Self-cleaning windows, skyscraper windows, solar panels
