Self-Cleaning Glass

Self-cleaning glass is given the ability to clean itself through special surface treatments, significantly reducing maintenance costs. Its core technology is based on two bio-inspired principles.

Core Technologies

1. Photocatalytic (Hydrophilic) Type: The surface is coated with a nanoscale titanium dioxide film. Under sunlight (UV), it decomposes organic dirt and makes the surface hydrophilic, allowing rainwater to form a sheet that washes away stains evenly without leaving water spots.

2. Superhydrophobic (Lotus-Effect) Type: The surface is engineered with micro-nano structures and treated with hydrophobic materials, causing water droplets to form high-contact-angle spheres that roll off, picking up and carrying away dust.

Key Advantages

• Significantly Reduces Maintenance: Can reduce the frequency of manual cleaning by 50%-80%, saving costs and resources.

• Long-Lasting Clarity and Transparency: Maintains a clean appearance and high light transmittance over the long term.

• Environmentally Friendly: Reduces the use of cleaning agents; some coatings can also decompose air pollutants.

• Improves System Efficiency: When used as cover glass for photovoltaic panels, it can mitigate power generation efficiency losses caused by dust accumulation.

Main Applications

• Building facades and large skylights in high-rise or hard-to-reach structures.

• Photovoltaic greenhouses, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and solar panel cover glass.

• Automotive side windows, rearview mirrors, and outdoor lamp covers.

Challenges and Trends

• Challenges: The long-term abrasion resistance and weather durability of coatings need continuous improvement; effectiveness against inorganic dirt (like dust, scale) is limited; there is an initial cost premium.

• Trends: Integration with other functions like Low-E and anti-reflective coatings; improving coating durability; developing smarter responsive materials.

As a preventive maintenance technology, self-cleaning glass cannot entirely replace manual cleaning. However, it offers significant long-term economic and environmental benefits and is an important component of green, intelligent buildings.