No More Fingerprints!

A group of German scientists have come up with a new surface coating that will prevent smudges!  Think of all the things you have now that accumulate finger prints and smudges, phones, iTouch, iPad, computer tablets, etc., now image them fingerprint- free.  These scientists have realized that a rough surface is in fact best for repelling smudges.  They obtained a glass slide and held it over a candle.  The accumulation of soot from this candle on the slide were staked just correctly to produce the correct surface texture- 80% empty space and 20% soot spheres.  In order to prevent the soot from washing away, it was coated with a thin silica shell and then baked at 600 degress Centigrade.  Another problem with common anti-smudge screens is they are thick.  This smudge proof screen contains soot spheres that are 30 to 40 nanometers in diameter, and the silica shell is 25 nanometers thick, a total of 55 to 65 nanometers thick, that is all!  The scientists viewed the smudgeproof coated slide under a microscope and sprayed it with many greasy substances.  The result- they observed the particles bouncing up and down like ping-pong balls! (This is the picture shown here.)  The problem with this coating is that is does scratch and wear off eventually.  Although, they are working on this flaw and trying to correct it quickly.
This has many implications in society, not just getting rid of those annoying fingerprints on your phone.  This substance is so repellent, it has been referred to as "superhydrophobic."  This coating could be used on buildings so they could clean themselves, reducing costs and environmental impact.  It can even be used biomedically so that tools do not become clogged by water or fatty materials.  And even eyeglasses can use this technology.  Once perfected, we could find it on all of our technologies.