Smart roof coating reflects heat in summer and traps it in winter

Berkeley Lab engineers have developed a roof coating that can keep a building warmer or cooler, depending on the weather. When it’s warm out, the material will reflect sunlight and heat, but this radiative cooling automatically switches off in winter, … Continue reading Smart roof coating reflects heat in summer and traps it in winter

Lubricated coating could keep brain implants working longer

While brain-implanted electrodes do show promise for applications such as restoring capabilities to the disabled, they tend to lose their functionality over time. A new coating, however, could allow them to work much longer once implanted.Continue Read… Continue reading Lubricated coating could keep brain implants working longer

New waterproof coating claimed to be cheaper and greener than others

Waterproof coatings do make products such as outerwear much more useful, but they also drive up the price. A new coating, though, is claimed to be 90 percent cheaper to produce, while still being highly effective and more eco-friendly.Continue ReadingC… Continue reading New waterproof coating claimed to be cheaper and greener than others

Black phosphorus coating kills superbugs then self-destructs

Bacteria are becoming more and more dangerous, as they evolve resistance to our best drugs. New weapons against these so-called “superbugs” are desperately needed. Now, researchers at RMIT have developed a coating that quickly kills bacteria and fungi,… Continue reading Black phosphorus coating kills superbugs then self-destructs

Optical coating reflects and transmits the same wavelength of light

Materials get their optical properties based on how much they reflect, absorb or transmit different wavelengths (colors) of light. Usually optical coatings either reflect or transmit a given color of light, but now researchers at the University of Roch… Continue reading Optical coating reflects and transmits the same wavelength of light

New coating could make desalination tech more efficient and less toxic

While reverse osmosis is a relatively energy-efficient form of seawater desalination, it is nonetheless made less efficient by a problem known as biofouling. A new membrane coating, however, could address biofouling like never before.Continue ReadingCa… Continue reading New coating could make desalination tech more efficient and less toxic

Implant coating combines meds and silver to prevent infections

When a patient receives a titanium artificial hip, there’s always the risk of an infection developing at the interface between the metal and the bone. A new implant-coating process, however, is intended to greatly reduce that risk.Continue ReadingCateg… Continue reading Implant coating combines meds and silver to prevent infections

Two-faced nanoparticles help make stickier, more water-repellent paint

Researchers in the US and UK have found a new way to improve paints and coatings, by adding “two-faced” nanoparticles. With one face that attracts water and another that repels it, the particles arranged themselves into a flat layer on a painted surfac… Continue reading Two-faced nanoparticles help make stickier, more water-repellent paint

Moth eyes inspire anti-icing surface for aircraft, and maybe eyewear

The unique arrangement of nanoscale bumps coating a moth’s eye have inspired all kinds of interesting technological advances, owing to the incredible antireflective properties that allow the eye to absorb almost all the light that hits it. These range … Continue reading Moth eyes inspire anti-icing surface for aircraft, and maybe eyewear