Nanotechnology cuts windscreen fog

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have come up with a high-tech solution to stop car windows and windscreens (and spectacles) from fogging up. They have developed a polymer coating of silica nanoparticles which can be applied to glass surfaces for a permanent solution which works in all light conditions,remaining fully translucent.

Previous proposals to solve the problem have involved the use of titanium dioxide, but this only works in the presence of ultraviolet light.
The polymer coating attracts water droplets and forces them to flatten into a transparent sheet rather than forming into drops or globules; it has anti-reflective properties which can reduce glare and maximize the light passing through. The MIT team has now applied for a patent, and says that "at least two" major car manufacturers and the US military have expressed interest in using the technology.
SOURCE: 4car