Lasers Could Make Bathroom Cleanups Less Water-Intensive

Scientists have found a way to create water-resistant surfaces using lasers, and the discovery could be useful in reducing the amount of water required to clean the bathroom.

The surfaces are comparable to Teflon, but more powerful. But unlike Teflon, "[this material] isn't a coating but part of the metal itself. Water actually bounces off the surface and rolls away," CNN reported.

A study published in January in the Journal of Applied Physics describes how to use lasers to create these surfaces, which "efficiently absorb light, repel water and clean themselves. The multifunctional materials could find use in durable, low maintenance solar collectors and sensors," according to the journal.

Chunlei Guo, a University of Rochester professor who led the study, described how the technique could be useful in bathrooms in the developing world.

“In these regions, collecting rain water is vital and using super-hydrophobic materials could increase the efficiency without the need to use large funnels with high-pitched angles to prevent water from sticking to the surface,” Guo said, per a university news release.

“A second application could be creating latrines that are cleaner and healthier to use. Latrines are a challenge to keep clean in places with little water. By incorporating super-hydrophobic materials, a latrine could remain clean without the need for water flushing," the release continued.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has supported Guo's work, according to the release. Guo says the technology also has industrial applications.

He says the goal is to "really push the technology out" in the next two or three years, according to CNN.