Layer-by-layer fabrication of self-cleaning superhydrophobic surface made from Carboxymethylcellulose and ZnO quantum dots: A combined experimental and computational study

Abstract

Non-health hazardous self-clean coating materials have fascinated and assumed immense significance from both academia and industries. Herein, we put forward a facile and efficient technique to design a self-clean coating material by employing selective organic (carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)) and inorganic (ZnO quantum dots (QDs)) fillers. Computed water repellence nature through interfacial solid-liquid-vapor interactions well compared with experimental outcomes. Interestingly, experimental water contact angle (WCA) (159.2 ± 2°) and simulated binding energy with aluminum (Al) substrate (−3044.12 kcal/mol) revealed the subtle balance of the excellent water repellence on one side while interfacial interactions confirmed sufficient adhesion with the substrate on the other side of the proposed coating. Fluoro functionalized CMC and ZnO QDs weaken the matrix interactions with water molecules by providing a much desirable combination of micro and nano-scale grooves to the exposed coating surface. The adopted technique for synthesis of such a superior coating is simple for application with commercially available materials and across surfaces in automobiles, biomedical instruments, and structural glasses.