Showed Water Contact Angles Research Articles

Fabrication of smart film based on fish gelatin incorporating phycoerythrin and cellulose nanofibrils to monitor fish freshness

Phycoerythrin (PE) extract from red algae Laver (Pyropia dentata) was used in the fabrication of a smart packaging film. The PE showed pH sensitivity, implying unique color shifts at different pH. The film colors altered from red through purple-brown to colorless with increasing pH. The smart packaging films were prepared by casting method composed of gelatin (GE), sodium alginate (SA), and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). The films were coded as GE/SA (control), GE/SA/PE, and GE/SA/CNF/PE. The thickness of the films ranged from 0.24 ± 0.02 mm to 0.33 ± 0.01 mm. The mechanical properties tensile strength (TS) (12.24 ± 0.30 MPa to 17.65 ± 0.33 MPa) and elongation at break (EAB) (79.34% ± 1.02%–93.36% ± 0.69%) significantly increased after addition of CNF. The synthesized films showed water contact angle ranged from 84.55 ± 2.12 to 69.41 ± 1.21, suggesting that films were hydrophobic. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated strong interaction among PE, CNF, and biopolymers. The film with GE/SA/CNF/PE exhibited higher thermal stability compared with control film. Then, the films were applied for checking real time application for the freshness of salmon fish. The significant color change of the film occurred and the number of bacterial colony and TVB-N were increased from 3.81 Log CFU/g to 6.94 Log CFU/g and from 4.78 mg/100 g to 32.27 mg/100 g after incubation for 48 h. Therefore, the film with PE and CNF was intended as an excellent candidate for smart packaging film.

Surface Modification of NiO‐Al2O3 Nanocomposites using Stearic Acid as a Modifier and their Applications in Self‐cleaning and Removal of Dyes

AbstractIn the present study, a quick surface modification method has been developed for the modification NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites using stearic acid (SA). The surface modification of NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites with stearic acid was confirmed by various analytical techniques (FT‐IR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry (TG), carbon and hydrogen (CH) and XPS). There is no change in XRD patterns, and FE‐SEM and TEM images of NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites after modification with SA. FT‐IR analysis of SA modified NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites shows characteristic IR bands of carboxylate group. TG and CH analyses also confirm the presence of SA in the NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites. XPS analysis of SA modified NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites shows the presence of carbon atoms of stearic acid. The SA modified NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites show water contact angle greater than 90° which suggests their hydrophobic nature. The SA modified NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites were explored for self‐cleaning and also as adsorbent for the removal of crystal violet and rhodamine B dyes from aqueous solutions. The SA modified NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites remove the dyes within 30 minutes. The effect of various adsorption parameters (adsorbent dosage, contact time, pH, and temperature) was investigated to understand the optimum adsorption conditions. The SA modified NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites show better self‐cleaning property as compared to unmodified NiO‐Al2O3 nanocomposites.

Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Materials through 3D Printing: Progress and Challenges.

Superhydrophobicity, a unique natural phenomenon observed in organisms such as lotus leaves and desert beetles, has inspired extensive research on biomimetic materials. Two main superhydrophobic effects have been identified: the "lotus leaf effect" and the "rose petal effect", both showing water contact angles larger than 150°, but with differing contact angle hysteresis values. In recent years, numerous strategies have been developed to fabricate superhydrophobic materials, among which 3D printing has garnered significant attention due to its rapid, low-cost, and precise construction of complex materials in a facile way. In this minireview, we provide a comprehensive overview of biomimetic superhydrophobic materials fabricated through 3D printing, focusing on wetting regimes, fabrication techniques, including printing of diverse micro/nanostructures, post-modification, and bulk material printing, and applications ranging from liquid manipulation and oil/water separation to drag reduction. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and future research directions in this burgeoning field.

Cerium-based conversion films developed on LiAl-layered double hydroxide coatings for corrosion protection of AA7075 aluminum alloys

The paper presents several experimental results regarding the influence of various procedures applied to incorporate Ce species in hydrotalcite–type chemical conver­sion coatings on the overall corrosion performance for AA 7075 aluminum alloy as a metallic substrate. Two routes were envisaged: (i) chemical incorporation of Ce by immersion in cerium nitrate solutions and (ii) electrochemical deposition of hydro­phobic Ce - based layer involving ethanolic solutions of stearic acid and cerium nitrate. The chemical route involving immersion in cerium nitrate solutions led to the incorpo­ration of 2.46 – 6.84 wt.% Ce in the composition of the porous conversion layer. The electrochemical process facilitated the formation of a hydrophobic cerium stearate layer on porous hydrotalcite conversion coating showing water contact angles of about 132o and a higher Ce content incorporated of 6.55 – 9.73 wt.%. The corrosion performance of the Ce-based conversion coatings is also discussed.

Hybrid nanocomposite coatings from PEDOT and BN-TiO2 nanosheets: Enhanced invitro corrosion resistance, wettability and biocompatibility for biomedical applications

The aim of this study is to develop the polymer nanocomposite coatings based on conducting polymer and hexagonal boron nitride (BN) nanosheets to improve invitro corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of 316L stainless steel (SS) implants. To achieve the highly dispersible BN, the surface of BN was decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles (~25 nm) and then, the resultant BN-TiO2 nanosheets was incorporated into poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) coatings. Surface and structural characterization results validated the formation of nanocomposite coatings with homogeneous distribution of BN-TiO2 as well the existing interaction between the BN-TiO2 and PEDOT matrix. Invitro corrosion analysis of coated 316L SS specimens in simulated body fluid corroborated that the value of corrosion current density (0.0248 μA/cm2) was two orders of magnitude with a lower corrosion rate of 1.4694 × 10−3 mmpy for PEDOT/BN-TiO2 nanocomposite coatings compared with the pure PEDOT. Uncoated 316L SS specimen showed water contact angle (WCA) value of 84.50°, whereas PEDOT/BN-TiO2 coatings displayed WCA value of about 20°, further inferring the positive role of BN-TiO2 in the PEDOT matrix. Invitro cell culture analysis on MG63 cells validated the enhanced biocompatibility of developed nanocomposite coatings. Among the studied samples, the PEDOT/10BN-TiO2 nanocomposite coatings demonstrated enhanced wettability, invitro corrosion resistance, and ability to facilitate osteoblast adhesion. The obtained results suggest that the developed nanocomposite coatings on 316L SS implants have the potential for use in orthopedic applications.

Durable and recoverable hydrophilicity of polyethylene terephthalate fabric prepared with plasma selective etching

Durable delustered PET (PET-TiO2) fabric super hydrophilic surface has been obtained by plasma selecting etching. The aging effect of their hydrophilicity after plasma treatment has been investigated with storage time. After Ar/O2 radio frequency (RF) plasma treatment for only 1 min, PET-TiO2 fabric showed water contact angle of 0o. After 10 month storage time, it keeps its water contact angle below 75.7o. Further more, with Xenon light irradiation for 10 min, it is firstly found that it has well-recovered water contact angle to 5°. While the contact angle of PET fabric for 7 min returns to 123.0° and its hydrophilicity disappeared almost completely and showed no response to Xenon light irradiation. The water absorption rate of 7 min plasma treated PET-TiO2 fabric increased by 57.54%. By field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction analysis(XRD) measurement, waviness structure of humps and ridges with irregular particles or pits were found on the plasma treated PET-TiO2 fabric surface and increased Ti atomic percentage was observed. It is verified that TiO2 particles inside PET-TiO2 fiber have been exposed to its surface by plasma selective etching of its organic component. It suppresses the aging effect and is characterized with durable and recoverable hydrophilicity. This one step, quick, green, and cost-reasonable manufacture method has a practical application for durable superhydrophilic surfaces.

Durable superhydrophobic EVA cellular material spin-coated by SiO2/SEBS-g-MAH toward self-cleaning roofs

Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) cellular material as one of important porous materials has been employed in the fields of outdoors cushioning. However, studies toward the construction of superhydrophobic structures on its surface for outdoor hygiene remains inadequate. In this work, a series of durable superhydrophobic SiO2/maleic anhydride grafted styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS-g-MAH) coatings with different weight contents of SiO2 were spin-coated on EVA cellular material's surface. 5Si-5S (50 wt% SiO2 and 50 wt% SEBS-g-MAH) coating showed water contact angle (WCA) of 162° and sliding angle of 6.3°. Meanwhile, 5Si-5S surface exhibited significant self-cleaning, anti-fouling and long-term water impact resistance abilities. Compared with Control sample, a freezing delay time of ~120 s and the 0.86 N reduction of ice adhesion force can also be realized. Contact angle values of 5Si-5S surface fluctuated around 160° as the pH of droplet changed in the range of pH 2–13. Moreover, the adhesive rate can reach 4B according to the ASTM D3359 and WCA can remain 150° after sandpaper abrasion, indicating its durability of hydrophobicity. The as-prepared EVA cellular material with durable superhydrophobic coating was expected as an outdoor building roof material toward self-cleaning and anti-icing application.

Nanosilica coated polydimethylsiloxane mushroom structure: A next generation flexible, transparent, and mechanically durable superhydrophobic thin film

Herein, we propose our successful attempt toward developing the transparent and flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based superhydrophobic and oleophobic thin film. The superior superhydrophobic and oleophobic properties were achieved by employing several key parameters, such as the fabrication of mushroom shaped microstructure, creating nanosized hierarchical roughness on the PDMS mushroom structure, and functionalization of the structures with low surface energy material. The successful formation of the nanostructure on mushroom and surface functionalization are demonstrated by various analytical techniques. The fabricated films based on PDMS mushroom microstructures (PM), nanosilica coated PDMS mushroom microstructures (NS@PM), and fluorine functionalized nanosilica coated PDMS mushroom microstructures (FNS@PM) showed water contact angle (CA) of ∼ 145°, 161° and 166°, respectively. Besides, the FNS@PM film showed CA of 146° to ethylene glycol indicating the oleophobic characteristic of the proposed material. The fabricated films exhibited excellent mechanical stability and durability during tape peeling, sandpaper scratch and sand abrasion, stretching test. The practical applicability of the proposed film is demonstrated as the protection layer for a solar module and a rear-view camera.

Facile surface treatment and decoration of graphene-based 3D polymeric sponges for high performance separation of heavy oil-in-water emulsions

The separation of oil-in-water emulsions has become an extremely important for both environmentally and industrial related applications. Herein, a graphene-based sponge (rGO@MF) was developed and utilized for separating various heavy oil-in-water emulsions as well as oil/water mixtures. The superhydrophobic sponge was engineered through facile surface-treatment and hydrothermal steps. The surface and structural properties of the rGO@MF sponge and the nanoemulsions were thoroughly characterized by advanced techniques. The high-resolution SEM and EDX mapping confirmed the homogeneous distribution of rGO sheets surrounding the fibers. The developed rGO@MF sponge showed excellent chemical stability and durability. The correlation between the oil type, droplet size and concentration of oil/water mixtures and emulsions, and the rGO@MF adsorption capacity and removal efficiency, were extensively investigated. The developed superhydrophobic rGO@MF sponge showed water contact angle of ~164º and exhibited superior adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of up to 5647 mg/g and 95 ± 3% respectively, for crude oil-in-water emulsions of 30 g/l. In addition, the rGO@MF sponge maintained its high separation performance over ten consecutive adsorption cycles. The adsorption capacity of the rGO@MF sponge maintained up to 92% of its initial values after ten cycles. The calculated activated adsorption energy for crude oil-in-water emulsion on rGO@MF sponge was 16.59 kJ mol−1 indicating a physical adsorption process. The adsorption kinetics and interactions were carefully explored and a general mechanism of separation for both oil-in-water nanoemulsions and oil/water mixtures was introduced.

Blends of Chalcone Benzoxazine and Bio-benzoxazines Coated Cotton Fabrics for Oil–Water Separation and Bio-silica Reinforced Nanocomposites for Low-k Applications

In the present work, chalcone benzoxazine (Chal-Bz) was co-polymerized with two bio-based benzoxazines namely cardanol (CrAb) and eugenol (EuAb) benzoxazine and coated over cotton fabric. The Chal-Bz/CrAb and Chal-Bz/EuAb blends coated cotton fabrics show water contact angle values of 163° and 156° respectively and their oil–water separation efficiency were observed found to be 97 and 96% respectively. In addition, the glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) functionalized bio-silica in varying weight percentages (1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 wt%) was also reinforced with two co-polymerized blended matrices to obtain respective composites. The developed composites were studied for their dielectric, thermal and morphological behaviours. The values of dielectric constant of 10 wt% bio-silica reinforced Chal-Bz/CrAb and Chal-Bz/EuAb composites were found to be 2.1 and 2.3, respectively. Similarly the values of contact angle of 10 wt% bio-silica reinforced chal-Bz/CrAb and Chal-Bz/EuAb composites were 137° and 116°, respectively. Data obtained from different studies suggest that these bio-silica reinforced benzoxazine composites can be used in the form of coatings, adhesives, sealants and encapsulants for high performance micro-electronics insulation applications under adverse environmental conditions. Thermal assisted polymerization of chalcone based benzoxazine (Chal-Bz) with bio based benzoxazines cardanol-aniline based benzoxazine (CrAb) and eugenol-aniline based benzoxazine (EuAb)) for low k and oil–water separation application.

Fabrication of flower clusters‐like superhydrophobic surface via a UV curable coating of ODA and V‐PDMS

ABSTRACTIn this work, a flower clusters‐like superhydrophobic surface was fabricated via an ultraviolet (UV) curable coating of octadecylamine (ODA) and vinyl‐terminated polydimethylsiloxane (V‐PDMS). ODA self‐assembled into many flower clusters‐like structures on the surface of the coating, increasing the roughness of the coating surface without additional nanoparticles. V‐PDMS formed a highly crosslinked network under a UV lamp, which would be helpful for a robust superhydrophobic surface. The obtained PDMS/ODA fabric showed water contact angle of 161° and sliding angle of 5°. The durability of the superhydrophobic surface was tested by water impacting, tube brush scrubbing, knife scratching, hand twisting, finger pressing, tape adhesion, abrasion, continuous rinsing, and chemical conditions. The experimental results indicated that the superhydrophobic surface have good durability for long service life. Moreover, the PDMS/ODA fabric could selectively absorb oils from water with good separation performance. This work will provide a facile, low cost, and versatile method to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces, and enhance their efficiency of oil–water separation. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48210.

Surface Structure Patterning for Fabricating Non-fluorinated Superhydrophobic Cellulosic Membranes

Superhydrophobic surfaces have attracted great interest in both scientific research and industrial applications. Patterned nanocellulose membrane surfaces were fabricated by a simple pressing process. After chemical modification with non-fluorinated and low-cost industrial chemicals, such as alkyl ketene dimers (AKD), wax, and isocyanate, some nanocellulose membranes showed water contact angles >150°. The combination of microsized pattern and nanosized cellulose fibers created a hierarchical structure that contributed to the superhydrophobic properties. SEM and optical microscopy were used to characterize the fiber network and hierarchical structures. Wetting experiments showed that water droplets roll off the cellulose membrane with fabricated pillar size lower than 100 μm after chemical modification with AKD, wax, or isocyanate. The process used in this superhydrophobic cellulose membrane fabrication is simple, cost-effective, and amenable to scale up so it has potential to be used as a liquid packaging...

Synthesis of coaxial TiO2/In2O3 nanowire assembly using glancing angle deposition for wettability application

Coaxial TiO2/In2O3 nanowire (NW) assembly, TiO2 NW and In2O3 NW were synthesized incorporating glancing angle deposition technique inside electron beam evaporator and their structural and optical properties were analyzed. The field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the growth of TiO2/In2O3 NW. X-ray diffraction confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the deposited TiO2/In2O3 NW structure. The surface roughness was 2.12 nm, 6 nm and 6.35 nm for TiO2 NW, In2O3 NW and TiO2/In2O3 NW, respectively using atomic force microscope. The TiO2/In2O3 NW, bare TiO2 NW and In2O3 NW showed water contact angle (CA) of 129°, 68° and 123°, respectively. On exposure to UV light illumination, the surface CA of coaxial TiO2/In2O3 NW, TiO2 NW and In2O3 NW changed to nearly 10°, 30° and 71°, respectively in 1 h. TiO2/In2O3 NW, TiO2 NW and In2O3 NW CAs changed with wettability transition rate of 1.2 × 10−3 degree−1 min−1, 3.2 × 10−4 degree−1 min−1 and 9.2 × 10−5 degree−1 min−1, respectively. There is improvement in photo-induced wettability switching properties of coaxial TiO2/In2O3 NW compared to TiO2 NW and In2O3 NW. This improvement is due to the interfacial surface morphology modification between TiO2 and In2O3 and efficient interaction of separated photogenerated charge carriers with water molecules to adsorb on the surface. On account of these, the change in wettability of heterostructure surface on interaction with UV light can give prospective applications in smart films as antifogging and self-cleaning surfaces.

Facile approach to develop anti-corrosive superhydrophobic aluminium with high mechanical, chemical and thermal durability.

Durable, superhydrophobic and self-cleaning aluminium surfaces with high corrosion resistance are desirable in many industrial applications. In this study, a facile approach is used to produce aluminium surfaces with superhydrophobicity with a low tilt angle by creating desired roughness structure by immersing in NaOH solution followed by lowering the surface energy by immersing in hexadecyltrimethoxysilane solution. The coated samples show water contact angle of 164 ± 7° and tilt angle of 5 ± 1°. Droplet dynamics of the coated surfaces was investigated. Surfaces exhibited self-cleaning properties. In addition, mechanical, chemical and thermal stability tests were performed. Electrochemical tests of coated surfaces demonstrated anti-corrosion properties with low corrosion current density and high corrosion potential. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bioinspired materials and surfaces for green science and technology'.

Physicochemical Properties of Cellulose Separators for Lithium Ion Battery: Comparison with Celgard2325.

High electrolyte wettability, thermal dimensional stability, and tensile strength are prerequisites for implementing separators in practical applications. In this study, we report on the discovery of nanofibril membranes derived from various plant fibers commonly used in the papermaking industry, for low cost and higher performances than the commercially available Celgard2325 in regard to the application of separators for lithium-ion batteries. Nanofibril membranes showed water contact angles as low as 18°, negligible size change at a heating temperature of 160 °C for 120 min, and tensile strength up to 137.6 MPa. The homogenization was found to strongly contribute to these improved performances. These findings suggest that the plant fiber-derived nanofibril membranes are anticipated to be promising candidates as separators for lithium-ion batteries.

Bio-inspired superhydrophobic and superoleophilic nanofibrous membranes for non-aqueous solvent and oil separation from water

Abstract The separation of apolar, or non-aqueous, solvents from polar ones is an important challenge in water and wastewater treatment applications. Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic membranes present unique opportunities for such separations. Inspired by the lotus leaf effect, superhydrophobic membranes were prepared having hierarchical surface roughness made of carbon black nanoparticles. A hydrophobic nanofibrous support was produced through electrospinning using polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP). Hydrophobic carbon black nanoparticles were then coated onto the support via an electrospraying technique under varying conditions to generate surfaces having unique micro- and nano-scale roughness features. Membranes made using a polymer concentration of 8% w/w and nanoparticle to polymer ratio of 1 showed the smallest bead size (4.9 ± 2.0 µm2) and highest bead area density (74.3%), with corresponding average and root mean square roughness values of 3.69 ± 0.07 µm and 4.63 ± 0.05 µm, respectively. When tested for surface wettability, the prepared membrane showed water contact angle, sliding angle and contact angle hysteresis values of 160.8°, 7.0° and 5.3°, respectively; however, liquids with surface tensions ≤36.6 mN/m had zero contact angle on the membrane surface (superoleophilicity). The optimized membrane showed significantly higher gravity-driven flux (1275–2163 LMH) than the nanofibrous support membrane (933–1424 LMH) for the tested non-aqueous solvents.

Influence of spore and carrier material surface hydrophobicity on decontamination efficacy with condensing hydrogen peroxide vapour.

To investigate the influence of surface hydrophobicity of carrier material (CM) and bacterial spores of Bacillus subtilis SA 22 and Bacillus atrophaeus (DSM 675) on spore inactivation with condensing hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) gas. Surface hydrophobicity of bacterial spores and CM was determined by means of contact angle measurement. Spores of B. subtilis showed water contact angles of 90°, spores of B. atrophaeus showed water contact angles of 42°. Above that, a resistance test against liquid H2 O2 at room temperature was conducted with resulting DH2O2 values of 101s (B. subtilis) and 906s (B. atrophaeus). The spores were deposited on CMs of different wettability (water contact angles of 115-30°). The spores were applied either individually or as an 1:1 mixture of both spore species. Exposure of biological indicators (BI) with 5200ppm of gaseous H2 O2 at 70°C treatment temperature for defined times up to 10s led to inactivation kinetics. Surfaces with high hydrophobicity showed faster spore inactivation than surfaces with lower hydrophobicity for single-spore species. Regarding the mixed BI, better survival of hydrophobic spores was expected. However, this effect can only be seen as a slight trend and is not significant after 10s. Surface hydrophobicity of CMs does influence the decontamination with gaseous, condensing H2 O2 . However, surface hydrophobicity of spores in a mixed population does only have a small influence on inactivation results. The intensity of spore inactivation depends more on other factors than on the wettability of the bacterial spores. However, hydrophobic surfaces lead to faster inactivation effects and should thus be preferred for aseptic packaging technology.

Water repellency improvement of cellulosic textile fibers by betulin and a betulin-based copolymer

Betulin is a naturally abundant and hydrophobic compound in the outer bark of birch and can readily be obtained by solvent extraction. Here, solutions of betulin were used to treat cotton fabrics and improve their water repellency. Cotton fabric impregnated in a solution of betulin in ethanol showed a contact angle for water of approximately 153° and reached a water repellency score of 70 according to a standard water repellency test method. A betulin-terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) copolymer was synthesized. Both betulin and betulin-TPC copolymer were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The copolymer was characterized by size exclusion chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. When impregnated with a solution of betulin-TPC copolymer in tetrahydrofuran, a cotton fabric showed a water contact angle of 151° and also reached a water repellency score of 70. Films based on betulin and betulin-TPC copolymer were prepared and coated onto the surface of the fabrics by compression molding. These coated fabrics showed water contact angles of 123° and 104° respectively and each reached a water repellency score of 80.

Controlling Superwettability by Microstructure and Surface Energy Manipulation on Three-Dimensional Substrates for Versatile Gravity-Driven Oil/Water Separation.

Superwettable materials have gained tremendous attention because of their special wetting abilities. The key to obtaining and tuning superwettability is to precisely control the interfacial microstructures and surface energies of materials. Herein, we propose a novel approach to controlling the superwettability of three-dimensional foams. The surface microstructure was manipulated by the layer-by-layer covalent grafting of multidimensional nanoparticles (e.g., silica, carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide), and the surface energy was tailored by grafting chemicals with different functional groups. This grafting approach improved the mechanical performance, reduced particle loading, and prevented particle disassociation, thereby increasing the absorption capacity and durability of the functionalized foams. More importantly, superhydrophobic/superoleophilic foams were obtained after heptanol grafting. They showed water contact angles of 153° in air and 158° in oil, an absorption capacity 113 times their weight gain, and a remarkable flux of 32.6 L m-2 s-1 for the separation of oil from water driven by gravity. Polydopamine grafting resulted in superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic foams that had an oil contact angle of 152° under water and a high flux of 19.3 L m-2 s-1 for the separation of water from oil. Thus, this study offers not only intelligent materials for versatile oil/water separation but also a profound approach for engineering high-performance superwettable materials.

Fabrication of a Highly Stable Superhydrophobic Surface with Dual-Scale Structure and Its Antifrosting Properties

The stable superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surface with dual geometric architectures was prepared by a combination of simple processes of chemical etching, dip-coating, and modification of fluorosilicone. The Al surface with 20 min of acid etching and nanosilica dip-coating has the best superhydrophobicity, which showed water contact angles (WCAs) of >157° and water sliding angles (SAs) of <1°. The superhydrophobic surface showed excellent antifogging, antifrosting, and delayed icing performances, compared to hydrophobic and hydrophilic Al surfaces. Furthermore, the superhydrophobicity of as-prepared surfaces is mechanically durable after 11 tape tests and 120 cm wear (under a pressure of 0.8 kPa). The strong interfacial interactions among the SiO2 nanoparticles, fluorosilicone-modified polyester resin, and the Al surface contributed to superior abrasion resistance. This method could provide a facile, low-cost, and stable route to fabricate a large-area superhydrophobic Al surface for application in vario...