Beads of water form on the surface of a leaf. This phenomena is commonly referred to as the 'lotus effect', due to the well-known self-cleaning properties of the Lotus plant. The beads roll off the surface of the leaf and take small particles of dirt with them.

The natural self-cleaning properties of the leaf are produced by a microscopically rough and super hydrophobic surface, which was discovered and patented by the botanist Wilhelm Barthlott. Nanotechnologies, including coatings, paints and other surface treatments, have been developed to mimic the lotus effect on clothes, products and buildings.

Textile designers and vehicle designers were brought together at the Institute of Materials (IoM) this week for a one-day workshop to explore the role of colour and materials for vehicles of the future.

There has been a burst of concept cars with smart and advanced technologies integrated into their inner fabric, such as Toyota's illuminating interior textile and Sheila Clarke's photoluminescent seat covers that glow in the dark. But what will be the colours and materials of the future? Typically, automotive purchases are quite conservative, because it is a large investment for many people. Even so, there are some exciting new material opportunities, such as light weight structural textiles, light emitting polymers and colour changing surfaces. Vehicles of the future will have many of the characteristics of current models. Opportunities for change include technologies that add convenience, such as self-cleaning surfaces; improved safety and comfort, such as materials that become rigid on impact and; lightness and increased fuel efficiency, such as structural textiles.

Image: Chemically coloured stainless steel