Fabrication of flexible and stretchable surfaces by modifying SiO2 on waste chewing gum for self-cleaning of fine-dust deposition

Abstract

With increasingly refined and complex usage scenarios, the use of purely superhydrophobic surfaces/interfaces has become increasingly limited. Flexible and stretchable superhydrophobic surface with self-cleaning fine-dust deposition function is gaining popularity, but their low-cost fabrication faces multiple challenges. Herein, a flexible superhydrophobic surface was fabricated using chewing gum and SiO2, while being can be shapeable, stretchable, self-healable, and reusable. The apparent contact angle (APCA) increases along with the dosage of SiO2 increase, the apparent contact angle (APCA) reaches to the maximum of 156 ± 5°, and the sliding angle (SA) reaches 3 ± 2° at the dosage of SiO2 1.0 g, the adhesive force reaches to minimum of 0.034 mN. The study demonstrated that this composite material exhibits self-cleaning fine-dust deposition surface properties by simply pasting it onto different surfaces of metals, fabrics, paper, and plastics. The chewing gum/SiO2 material shows robust resistance to sandpaper abrasion, tape-peeling, finger wiping, and solutions with different pH values. This material can be used on metals, fabrics, paper, and plastics for a myriad of self-cleaning fine-dust deposition applications.