SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY, CHINA. Scientists were able to develop a new cotton fabric that cleans itself of stains and bacteria when exposed to sunlight. This is a major breakthrough and economical as well since you do not have to spend much on fabric conditioners with antibacterial properties. You simply need to hang your clothes, socks, jeans on a clothesline under the sun and they automatically clean and deodorize themselves.

The scientists involved with this innovation are Mingce Long and Deyong Wu. They applied a coating from a compound of titanium dioxide – the white material being used in white paint to food and to sunscreen lotions. When exposed to some kinds of light, titanium dioxide breaks down dirt and kills microbes.

This compound has already been tested as very useful in self-cleaning windows, odor-free socks, bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles and other products. Cotton fabrics that self-clean have been made before but they only function when exposed to ultraviolet rays. This led to the development and improvement of this innovation that will make it work even to ordinary sunlight.

The new cotton fabric was coated with nanoparticles made from nitrogen and titanium dioxide. When exposed to sunlight, the coated fabric successfully removed an orange stain. Additional nanoparticles composed of iodine and silver have accelerated the discoloration process. Even when washed and dried, the coating remains intact.