Scientists create self-cleaning lens material
Scientists in Singapore have created a material to coat eyeglass lenses that is self-cleaning and has anti-reflective properties
A group of scientists from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore established a new system to cover the lenses of eyeglasses that will prevent the condensation of fog, which is capable of cleaning itself and has anti-reflective properties. The result is anti-reflective lenses that don’t fog up and clean themselves.
This new eyeglass treatment promises to end both problems simultaneously. According to Chen Zhong, one of the authors of the discovery, explained: “Our team has demonstrated a method that is quick to apply, within an hour, that produces long-lasting results, demonstrating its potential for a wide range of practical applications.”
Zhong stressed that there are different products on the market, in sprays or wipes, anti-fog, but their effectiveness “are temporary and have limited effectiveness” having to be applied constantly for them to have an effect.
The method combines various materials
The research allowed the development of a method that works on polycarbonate lenses. According to the procedure, the first step is to treat the plastic with oxygen plasma, a substance used to clean the surfaces, which improves adherence. Subsequently and by means of “a pulsed laser, they cover the lens with a thin film that has two layers: one of silicon dioxide and the other of titanium dioxide“, the concentrated laser makes it easier to vaporize the excess material and reaches a film of the desired thickness.
Likewise, the use of “titanium dioxide” allows the lenses to clean themselves because it has photocatalytic capacity and when exposed to ultraviolet sunlight, it reacts with organic residues, eliminating them.
Laboratory experiments showed that the new coating is well suited to breaking down bacteria and dirt on the lens surface after exposure to sunlight throughout the day. Additionally, the researchers highlighted that the “system makes the crystals anti-reflective”, facilitating greater clarity in vision.
Innovation in the market
The group of researchers are waiting to be granted the “patent for this method and are looking for collaborators to bring the innovation to the market.” Likewise, the scientists consider that their system “would also be very useful in industrial applications of different optical components, such as surveillance cameras.”
Sun Ye, lead author of the discovery, said: “The results obtained demonstrate the multifunctionality of our coating. It is anti-reflective, anti-fog and self-cleaning. He explained that the manufacturing method is fast, easy and durable” when compared to other “anti-fog methods that usually end up in coatings with limited functions.”
M. Rodríguez
Source: elconfidencial.com
