Nano-Structured Material Cleans Oil Spill, Kills Germs

Apr-19-16 Researchers have created a semi-conductive fabric that could clean up oil spills as well as kitchen counters.

Created by a team from multiple groups, the material began as a piece of regular nylon that already had a silver layer woven in it. A layer of copper coating was then applied to the material, followed by another solution that caused nanostructures to form on the surface of the fabric. This gave the material its semi-conducting capabilities.

The nano-structures will attract oil while repelling water, and the material was proven effective at cleaning different kinds of oil. The material can also act as an antibacterial fabric, and its semiconducting properties enable it to react with light to destroy organic pollutants.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[QUT.EDU.AU]

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