Self-Cleaning Buildings to Fight Smog

bryan8m writes "Using technology already available for self-cleaning windows and bathroom tiles, scientists hope to paint up cities with materials that dissolve and wash away pollutants when exposed to sun and rain. The idea: UV rays hitting the titanium dioxide coated cement and concrete trigger a catalytic reaction that destroys the molecules of pollutants, including nitrogen oxides."

Comments

Now, can we put DC on the transmission lines?

[anubi]

Now, that high power solid-state switches ( hence, power converters ) are becoming do-able, is there any way we can start putting high-voltage DC on our power grids?

The rationale here being the DC will ionize the air, charging the impurities, thereby encouraging them to head for and adhere to these pollution-destroying buildings.

Incidentally, ionizing the air is NOT a new concept. Its been happening in nature since Earth began... especially during thunderstorms when the air is so charged it breaks down - we call it lightning.

I have often wondered if dirgibles, charged from being moored to the business end of a large vandergraff generator ( several stories tall ) would do the trick.

If a small electrostatic generator drops the crap out of the air in a room, would a bigger one clear stagnant air over an entire city... such as the Los Angeles basin?

Carbon?

[moderators_are_w*nke]

Outside of certain cities, such as Athens and Tehran, motor pollution is not such an issue anymore, as we all have catalytic convertors fitted to our cars (at least we do in the EU). Unfortunately, its still pumping out CO2. What is required is a catalyst which turns CO2 into Carbon and Oxygen. Unfortunately outside of plants and trees we don't have one. I suspect the worlds largest polluter will have to do better than this.

Re:Solar?

[jacksonj04]

OMGS you suggested nuclear die die planet killing scum!
[/sarcasm]

Seriously though, whilst I'm all in favour of nuclear it lacks a lot of public support.

A better idea would be to plant rooftop gardens, and hang cylindrical turbines off the sides of buildings. Cities act like big wind tunnels between tall buildings, cylindrical turbines could be used to turn this air into power for the building whilst the garden on the top helps buffer some of the pollution and generally make a nicer place.

Alternatively, make the centre of large cities pedestrian only.

Re:FTFA

[greginnj]

>> Organic compounds are broken down into carbon dioxide and water, while the nitrogen oxides yield nitrate salts.

> Carbon dioxide and water are easy enough to take care of. Not sure what to do with the nitrate salts. Fertilizer?

Ok, let me get this straight. We've now got a process that allows you to paint an urban building with a substance that automatically transforms the ambient pollution into nitrate fertilizer?

Congratulations, you're only a step or two away from creating the world's first self-exploding skyscraper!