XVI International Botanical Congess

Plant surfaces are covered by epicuticular waxes often showing a great ultrastructural diversity. This microstructured wax layer represents a multifunctional interface between plants and environment often causing strong water-repellency. In addition, on such rough surfaces the adhesion of contaminating particles is extremely reduced. As a result, the particles are removed from the surface by rain, fog, or dew since they adhere to the surface of the water droplets rolling over the leaf. We called this self-cleaning property Lotus-Effect since it can be impressively demonstrated on the large peltate leaves of the sacred lotus. The properties of the lotus leaves are currently transferred into technical applications in cooperation with four industrial companies. The first product, a facade paint, has been introduced to the market in march of this year.