Barthlott and his team successfully applied this natural phenomenon to make facade paints under the brand name Lotusan, first introduced in the market in March 1999. Barthlott put in 22 years into developing this paint. His persistence brought him the German Environmental Award, one of the most prestigious environmental awards in Europe, as well as the Philip Morris Research Award in 1999. This could be just right for a country such as India where pollution, heat and dust are the bane of many a car owner. The list of products that might employ this technology is almost endless, with applications in areas ranging from the food industry and aircraft design, to medicine.
Enlarged images show water drops clean dirt off Lotusan paint surface.
Barthlott points out that, in comparison with conventional paints, Lotusan can withstand harsh weather conditions and is effective when applied on external structures, thus reducing the chances of fungal and algal attack. This gives the paint greater longevity, cutting down expenses as well as the use of cleaning agents. He mentions that roof tiles were expected to be out in the market soon, followed by ceramics. The lotus is believed to be indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, says Anil KGoel, former assistant director of the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. Wetlands, crucial habitats of the lotus, are highly abused and under great pressure in India.