Scientists have now devised a window screen that might help combat indoor pollution in cities like Beijing. A recent study conducted in the capital showed that the screens – which are sprayed with transparent, pollution-trapping nanofibers – were extremely effective in keeping harmful pollutants outside, Scientific American reports.
The nanofibers are created using nitrogen-containing polymers. The screens are sprayed with the fibers using the blow-spinning method, which allows a very thin layer to evenly cover the screens.
The anti-pollution technology is the brainchild of scientists from both Tsinghua University in Beijing and Stanford University. According to the scientists, the material is capable of filtering over 90 percent of harmful pollutants that would ordinarily travel through window screens.
Scientists tested out the anti-pollution screens in Beijing during an extremely smoggy day in December. During the 12-hour test, a one- by two-meter window was equipped with a window screen layered with the anti-pollution nanofibers. The screen successfully filtered out 90.6 percent of hazardous particles. At the end of the test, scientists were easily able to wipe the hazardous particulates off of the screen.
These windows could eliminate, or at least reduce, the need for expensive, energy-inefficient air filtration systems, necessary in cities like Beijing.
[Image via Scientific American]
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