Research Update: Coating may dispel condensation fog

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a coating, made from layers of silica nanoparticles and a special polymer, which may counter droplet accumulation on windows, goggles, and lenses. Normally, condensed droplets scatter light in random patterns, which makes the material translucent and foggy. The coating is superhydrophilic (water-loving) and attracts the water droplets; in turn, the droplets flatten and merge into a uniform, transparent film or sheet on top of the underlying surface.

The photo shows how researchers coated one glass slide (left) with antifogging coating and left the other one uncoated (right). They then placed the glass slides in a freezer, brought them out into humid air, and positioned them over a photo. To learn more, go to http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2005/fog.html.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, www.mit.edu.