Remember that fine looking robot iCub that was showcased at London Science Museum’s Robotville Festival? Its makers from Italy have come up another fine idea, this time it is not a robot.
Roberto Cingolani with his team has created a polymer that after mixing with a solution would create “Polymetric Matrix”. By coating, spraying, or dipping this solution on a paper will turn it into an antibacterial, magnetic, or a waterproof paper.
The team of researchers also hope that making a fluorescent paper is also possible.
Albeit, the basic properties of the paper will remain same as you would be able to use just like a normal paper sheet.
The polymer Cingolani and his team used in this process is made of paper’s molecules and lab-made nanoparticles. By adding the silver nanoparticles would result into antibacterial characteristics of the paper. On the other hand, blending iron oxide nanoparticles with solution would bring magnetic properties in the given paper.
Cingolani who is the scientific director at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa, Italy, says, “Antibacterial paper is potentially important for the food packaging and medical applications”, and “Fluorescent and magnetic paper could be used for security and bank note/ currency protection or other similar documents. Waterproof paper could be used to protect cultural heritage documents.”
Source: Forbes
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