The benefits so far

Current commercial applications include:

• Sunscreens which use nanosized zinc oxide particles to absorb and reflect UV rays. This makes lotions transparent and smooth as opposed to sticky and white which will therefore make it more appealing to the consumer.

• Self cleaning windows are coated with a material which has unique chemical properties. When the sun shines on these windows, a chemical reaction is triggered which breaks down dirt. Rain, instead of forming droplets, will spread evenly over the panel and wash away the broken down dirt. The thickness of this layer is controlled at the nanoscale.

• Stain repellent fabrics are made by immersing rolls of woven cotton fabric in liquids containing trillions of nanotech fibres. The cotton is then dried in an oven, binding the tiny fibres to the cotton threads. The cotton appears to be unchanged but is, in fact, impermeable to liquid.

• Bouncy tennis balls are coated in nanosized material. A molecular barrier is formed by the tiny particles that trap air molecules making the balls extra bouncy.