New sapphire nanostructures created at UT Austin repel dust, glare, and fog while staying durable. Inspired by nature, these ...

dust and glare with self-cleaning capabilities. "This is very exciting since nanostructures are traditionally seen as being fragile, but making them in sapphire can solve this problem," said Kun ...

A new study shows that sapphire, the second most durable gemstone after diamond, could be the key to developing the best anti-glare, anti-fogging, dust-resistant, scratch-free surfaces.

More information: Kun-Chieh Chien et al, Scratch-resistant sapphire nanostructures with anti-glare, anti-fogging, and anti-dust properties, Materials Horizons (2025). DOI: 10.1039/D4MH01844C ...

While not quite as scratch-resistant as traditional bulk sapphire – the nanostructures are comparable to tungsten or traditional glass in that way – these new sapphire nanostructures repel fog, dust ...