PubAg

Superhydrophobic self-similar nonwoven-titanate nanostructured materials

Author:

Sharma, Sumit, Rawal, Amit, Tóth, Ildikó Y, Vásárhelyi, Lívia, Kozma, Gábor, Kukovecz, Ákos, Jee, Shyam, Ayaydin, Ferhan

Source:

Journal of colloid and interface science 2021 v.598 pp. 93-103

ISSN:

0021-9797

Subject:

X-radiation, air, hydrophobicity, micro-computed tomography, nanowires, wettability

Abstract:

Self-similarity is a scale-invariant irregularity that can assist in designing a robust superhydrophobic material. A combinatorial design strategy involving self-similarity and dual-length scale can be employed to create a new library of a doubly re-entrant, disordered, and porous network of superhydrophobic materials. Asymmetric wettability can be engineered in nonwoven materials by rendering them with superhydrophobic characteristics on one side.A facile, scalable, and inexpensive spray-coating technique was used to decorate the weakly hydrophobicstearate-treatedtitanate nanowires (TiONWs)over the self-similar nonwoven material. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was employed to image the impalement dynamics in three dimensions. With the aid of X-ray microcomputed tomography analysis, the three-dimensional (3D) nonwoven structural parameters were obtained and analyzed. The underwater superhydrophobic behavior of the prepared samples was investigated.A classic 'lotus effect' has been successfully endowed in self-similar nonwoven-titanate nanostructured materials (SS-Ti-NMs) from a nonwoven material that housed the air pockets in bulk and water repellent TiONWs on the surface. The finer fiber-based SS-Ti-NMs exhibited lower roll-off angles and a thinner layer of water on its surface. An asymmetric wettability and the unusual display of underwater superhydrophobic behavior of SS-Ti-NMs have been uncovered.

Agid:

7313094

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2021.03.045