Scientists have created a "self-cleaning" material, the dust on which does not linger

US scientists developed "self-cleaning" material that collects little or no dust. Instead, its particles stick to each other and simply roll off the surface under the influence of gravity alone.

The self-cleaning effect was achieved by changing the geometry of the surface - at a level invisible to the human eye. The team created a densely packed nanoscale network of pyramidal structures that makes it difficult for dust particles to adhere to the material.

In a study funded by a NASA grant, the material was tested with microparticles of lunar soil. They were simply poured onto two transparent surfaces: with a new structure and a traditional polymer one.

The team found that only 2% of the surface of the new material remained dusty, compared to more than 35% of the usual smooth surface.

Obviously, the development of such a material is mainly aimed at application in the space industry. After all, dust can cause serious damage and even jeopardize a mission to Mars, which will use a large amount of high-tech equipment.

Nevertheless, the researchers are confident that their development could also be useful on Earth, preventing the accumulation of dust on the same solar panels that lose their effectiveness when polluted. Moreover, such a structure may well be used in the screens of various devices and window panes.