Electric breath figure: mechanism and application

Abstract

Electric breath figures, EBF, is a novel method for producing ordered porous structure. This work reviewed the EBF process from its design, mechanism, to application. In general, the EBF is developed from the conventional BF by using the electrostatic generator to assist the BF process. Comparing to the normal BF process request of controlling a lot of factors, the EBF showed advances in only using the voltage variety to control the process for fabrication of micro- and nanostructured porous materials. With the help of the electricity, the EBF process was performed under low surface tension condition that leads the moist air blown over a solution stabilized and the formed water droplets array on the liquid surface with opposite charges. In this work, the normal EBF process and two furthermore developed surfactant and nanomaterial-assisted EBF processes were reviewed in relation to the mechanisms and application.