Materials Science Report: An Analysis of Self-Cleaning Surfaces

This report provides a comprehensive overview of self-cleaning surfaces, drawing inspiration from natural phenomena like lotus leaves and gecko feet. It categorizes self-cleaning functionalities into photocatalytic, super-hydrophilic, and super-hydrophobic types, emphasizing the role of water contact angle in determining a surface's ability to self-clean. The report delves into antimicrobial surfaces, particularly those functionalized with Ag-NPs and other innovative methods. It discusses the influence of the lotus effect on the development of self-cleaning and antibacterial technologies, including the TresClean technique. The report also examines the use of self-cleaning surfaces in healthcare settings, highlighting the importance of surface disinfection and the application of various chemicals and technologies, such as electrolyzed water and antimicrobial coatings. Furthermore, it explores the application of nanotechnology in creating self-cleaning textiles and the use of titanium oxide in self-cleaning surfaces, while also addressing concerns about its potential toxicity. The report concludes by emphasizing the wide-ranging applications of self-cleaning surfaces across various sectors, including medicine, textiles, electronics, and construction.