Researchers at the RMIT University in Australia are working on the development of self-cleaning fabrics based on the combined use of nanostructures and light. The idea is to grow nanostructures on textiles which release a burst of energy that degrades organic matter, when exposed to light. With such textiles, sunshine or just a light bulb could get rid of dirt and stains. The team at the Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility and NanoBiotechnology Research Lab at RMIT have been working with copper and silver-based nanostructures, which are known for their ability to absorb light. The researchers said they have been only tested on stains, while tests on sweat have not yet started, but experiments so far have already been successful in degrading some difficult organic compounds.

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