A general tape-coating strategy to construct multifunctional superhydrophobic surfaces with self-adhesion, self-healing, and conductivity on various substrates

Abstract

Recently, integrating multifunctionality into superhydrophobic surfaces is becoming a tendency to meet the complexity of substrates and practical applications. However, the types of multifunctional superhydrophobic surfaces are limited and effectively constructing superhydrophobic surfaces on random substrates especially with special materials, environments, or shape is still a challenge. Herein, a tape-strategy to obtain superhydrophobic surfaces with special properties just by a simple pasting process is reported. In detail, multifunctional superhydrophobic tape is achieved through the method of spraying the superhydrophobic conductive carbon nanotubes on polyurethane (PU) coating, which could conveniently manufacture the superhydrophobic surfaces on various solid substrates (Al, CF/EP, polyimide, and glass). Depending on the proper crosslinking density of PU, existing of disulfide-bond, and uniform distribution carbon nanotubes, the obtained tape endows the solid surfaces with the multifunctional performance of superhydrophobicity, desirable self-adhesive/self-healing properties as well as conductivity. Moreover, the tap could fabricate arbitrary patterns by a simple pasting and heating process, which is adaptable for various shapes or substrates. Generally, this work provides new sights for fabricating multifunctional superhydrophobic surfaces, and the tap would have promising potential in electromagnetic stealth cloth, various multifunctional sensors, the motion monitoring, or other applications in future.