Abstract
Controllable modification of surface free energy and related properties (wettability, hygroscopicity, agglomeration, etc.) of powders allows both understanding of fine physical mechanism acting on nanoparticle surfaces and improvement of their key characteristics in a number of nanotechnology applications. In this work, we report on the method we developed for electron-induced surface energy and modification of basic, related properties of powders of quite different physical origins such as diamond and ZnO. The applied technique has afforded gradual tuning of the surface free energy, resulting in a wide range of wettability modulation. In ZnO nanomaterial, the wettability has been strongly modified, while for the diamond particles identical electron treatment leads to a weak variation of the same property. Detailed investigation into electron-modified wettability properties has been performed by the use of capillary rise method using a few probing liquids. Basic thermodynamic approaches have been applied to calculations of components of solid–liquid interaction energy. We show that defect-free, low-energy electron treatment technique strongly varies elementary interface interactions and may be used for the development of new technology in the field of nanomaterials.
Highlights
Divided submicron and nanoscale solid materials demonstrate anomalous properties at both nano- and microscales due to their huge surface energy and high specific surface area
The combination of two different techniques was used for surface energy modification: UV and low-energy electron irradiation
The developed surface modification technique based on combination of low-energy electron irradiation and UV illumination has resulted in surface free energy and wettability modification in a wide range of water contact angles
Summary
Divided submicron and nanoscale solid materials demonstrate anomalous properties at both nano- and microscales due to their huge surface energy and high specific surface area. They are considered today as building blocks in many nanotechnological applications related to electronics, optics and biomedicine [1]. Many diverse fundamental surface-related physical properties of nanomaterials such as wettability, dispersion, hygroscopicity and agglomeration define key nanotechnological processes [2]. Cohesion followed by agglomeration occurs among ZnO nanoparticles due to their huge specific surface area, high intrinsic surface energy [3] as well as pyroelectric electrostatic interaction [4]. Nanopowder surface modification, preventing or strengthening cohesion and agglomeration of nanoparticles, is a critical issue in nanotechnology [5]
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