Fog be gone

Foggy windows and lenses are a nuisance, and in the case of automobile windows, can pose a driving hazard. Now, a group of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) may have found a permanent solution to the problem.

The team has developed a unique polymer coating - made of silica nanoparticles - that they say can create surfaces that never fog.

Researchers have been developing anti-fog technology for years, but each approach has its drawbacks. Some stores carry special anti-fog sprays that help reduce fogging on the inside of car windows, but the sprays must be constantly reapplied to remain effective. Glass containing titanium dioxide also shows promise for reduced fogging, but the method only works in the presence of ultraviolet light.

“Our coatings have the potential to provide the first permanent solution to the fogging problem,” said Michael Rubner, PhD, an MIT materials science researcher. “They remain stable over long periods, don’t require light to be activated and can be applied to virtually any surface.”