Research Report: Reduced Reflection

November 7, 2007

University of Florida engineers have developed a new anti-reflective coating and they have insects to thank for it. Moths have unique eyes that don’t reflect light, so UF researcher Peng Jiang is borrowing the dense microstructure of moth eyes and applying it to everything from windows to solar cells.

Jiang: “So we are trying to mimic this structure for the usefulness, for example, of making anti-reflection coatings for windows, treated windows, for treating of computer monitors.”

They can also reduce the water and dirt on your windows. The insect known as the cicada has a similar water resistant microstructure on its wings. Just watch water dance off this disk coated for anti-reflection.

Jiang: “If you can generate this kind of coating, say on your windows, you don’t need to wash them. If there’s a dust coat on there you just wait for rain. The rain will bring down all this kind of dust from the window surface.”

So if engineers have their way, you may never have to wash your windows or deal with glare again.