India’s Padma-shri “Lotus Effect” is Patented by a German Scientist

Dhirendra Sharma

Kamal (Lotus ) is the most revered flower in Indian civilization. It is also the most loved and cherished among Eastern peoples – China, Japan, Siam, Malayasia and Myanmar. Host of our gods and goddesses – the divine beauties – adore this flower.

In Sanskirt literature Kalidasa ( c. 400 A.D.) depicted it in different colours and how Gauri Parvati, noticed it floating in Lake Manasarovar (14,000’). The Goddess of Wealth rests on a pink Lotus and Lakshmi is called Kamala, born of Lotus bloom. Creative Force Brahmaji is Padma-yoni or Born of the Lotus-womb. Enlightened Buddha is called Padma-Samabhava, and Mahayogi Shiva meditated in Padma-asana – Lotus Posture.

Born in muddy water, lotus leaves stand above the water and therefore ancient scientists ( Rishis) had defined an ideal person who lives like “kamal-patra sthitam toyam” - like drop of water on the lotus leaf.

Chemical properties of the sacred lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera) make it dirt-free. Rain water washes off dust particles and it is rare to see a lotus dirty or blemished. Yet it is not hostile to water. In fact it loves rain water but its leaves have microscopic bumps which make the water flow downward and keep the leaves free of the dirt particles. That is how the dirt does not stick to the lotus leaves.

This lotus phenomenon was discovered by Dr. Wilhelm Barthlott of the University of Bonn in Germany. A botanist, Barthlott in 1980s, realized that if the minuscule bumps on surfaces of lotus could be synthesized , a “lotus effect” could be created scientifically that have many application. He Patented the Lotus Effect and its industrial potential is being utilized by a German multinational company Sto AG since 1999. The Lotus Effect is now enlisted among the 50 most industrially significant German inventions of recent decades.

Mr. Peter Forbes- a science writer, discussing the Self-cleaning properties of the lotus plant, confirmed its unique ability to repel the blemish. He refers to recent researches and development in the self-cleaning and antibacterial technologies now being developed for industrial applications. In Scientific American-India, magazine (August 2008), Forbes explains how Dr. Wilhelm Barthlott discovered The Lotus Effect which can provide industrial microfluidic Self-clearning, Self-deodorizing and disinfectant materials that would help keep surfaces of bathrooms and hospitals free of bacteria. Glass windows in Space Stations and high rising buildings will also be kept free of fog, mist and atmospheric dust particles.

The lotus effect, thus, offers scope for manufacturing industrial paints that would make any surface – glass or cement, hard or soft, ever self-cleaning and free of dust and dirt. This would make costly periodic cleaning and painting of tall structures and buildings unnecessary.

Credit goes to Barthlott who in the 1970s, observed the lotus phenomenon while using the scanning electron microscope at a nanometer realm. He noticed that some plants never need washing and the sacred lotus was the prince among these wonderful nature’s creation.. His research led him to very exciting discoveries that the lotus leaf surface has combination of two features: it has a kind of slippery ( waxiness) within the microscopic bumps – just a few microns in size. This waxiness makes the leaves water-hating ( hydrophobic). But the lotus leaf also contains water-loving (hydrophilic) substance/ properties which it has drawn from its gene (mother-water). Was this then the scientific nature of Lotus Effect which made Kamalum the most loved and revered flower by the ancient scientists (rishis).