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Smog Busting Paint Breaks Down Noxious Gasses
jlechem writes "New Scientist is reporting a story about a new paint that can absorb noxious gas. According to the article the new paint is called Ecopaint. The substance is designed to reduce levels of the nitrogen oxides, collectively known as the NOx gases, which cause respiratory problems and trigger smog production. The paint's base is polysiloxane, a silicon-based polymer. Embedded in it are spherical nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate 30 nanometres wide. Because the particles are so small, the paint is clear, but pigment can be added. The first paint to go on sale will of course be white."
Really, the places that have the highest concentration of vehicles - downtowns - seem to be almost entirely cement, glass, and brick. Out in the suburbs there's houses with paint on them, but there's not much pollution out there...unless you live in southern California. Cement might actually be more useful because there are more cement surfaces than painted surfaces in high-density parts of town.
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At least it will be obvious when a new coat is needed.
I can see this stuff being required by ordnance in cities, especially places like Los Angeles and Beijing, where air pollution is a major issue.
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I wonder what this paint would do for those of us here on the Big Island of Hawaii. We have a form of smog that is generated by the noxious sulfur dioxide gas and other pollutants emitted from Kilauea Volcano (vog). The trade winds here carry most of the vog over to the other side of the island (Kona), but we do ocassionally get it here on this side of the island (Hilo). When the vog rolls in, the air smells like rotten eggs and you get the same type of visual effect that comes from staring at a a low res monitor screen for 8 hours :)
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