Mainz Science Market 2017

Surfaces that repel dirt are more than welcome for many parents and people owning a car. Inspired by nature, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research develop micro- and nanostructured surfaces. These are superhydrophobic so that dirt particles simply cannot adhere. The researchers show how even ketchup is able to collect dirt on a fabric and why carnivorous plants serve as a model for novel self-cleaning surfaces.