Using Gold to Thwart Fogging Lenses

An ETH Zurich team has developed a new, ultra-thin, and transparent gold coating that can convert sunlight to heat. The aim is to harnesses sunlight to heat glasses’ lenses to prevent them from fogging — the method, which leaves glasses 8 degrees warmer and requires no electricity, could even be used for car windshields.

"The pane coating absorbs infrared rays from the sun, which specifically heats the pane and prevents the radiation from reaching the inside of the car or building," ETH doctoral student Iwan Hächler explains . "As a result, the interior heats up even less than it would without the coating."


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