Facile preparation and properties of superhydrophobic nanocellulose membrane

Superhydrophobic nanocellulose membrane was prepared by synergistically modifying biodegradable nanocellulose with low-carbon perfluoroorganosiloxane and ethyl orthosilicate. The effects of four kinds of low-carbon perfluoroorganosiloxanes with different structures and their ratio to ethyl orthosilicate on the hydrophobic properties of nanocellulose membrane were investigated, and then FT-IR, XPS, XRD, SEM, TEM, AFM, TG and contact angle goniometer were used to characterize the structure and hydrophobic properties of nanocellulose membrane before and after modification. It is found that when the molar ratio of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (PFOTMS) to ethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is 1, the modified nanocellulose membrane PFOTMS-TEOS-CNF is loaded with silica nanoparticles both inside and on its surface, and a micro-nano hierarchical rough morphology with low surface energy is constructed. At this point, the root-mean-square roughness (Rq) of nanocellulose membrane is 112 nm, and the static contact angle of water droplet is 153.5°, successfully realizing superhydrophobicity. In addition, compared to unmodified nanocellulose membrane, PFOTMS-TEOS-CNF with better thermal stability includes an additional maximum weight loss rate temperature (491.2 °C). The above advantages markedly improve the shortcomings of pristine nanocellulose, such as superhydrophilicity and insufficient thermal stability, and also broadens its high-value application in many fields.     

Construction of Renewable Superhydrophobic Surfaces via Thermally Induced Phase Separation and Mechanical Peeling

We report a simple preparation method of a renewable superhydrophobic surface by ther-mally induced phase separation (TIPS) and mechanical peeling. Porous polyvinylidene fluo-ride (PVDF) membranes with hierarchical structures were prepared by a TIPS process under different cooling conditions, which were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and mer-cury intrusion porosimetry. After peeling off the top layer, rough structures with hundreds of nanometers to several microns were obtained. A digital microscopy determines that the surface roughness of peeled PVDF membranes is much higher than that of the original PVDF membrane, which is important to obtain the superhydrophobicity. Water contact angle and sliding angle measurements demonstrate that the peeled membrane surfaces display super-hydrophobicity with a high contact angle (152°) and a low sliding angle (7.2°). Moreover, the superhydrophobicity can be easily recovered for many times by a simple mechanical peel-ing, identical to the original superhydrophobicity. This simple preparation method is low cost, and suitable for large-scale industrialization, which may offer more opportunities for practical applications.     

On the dynamics of contact line freezing of water droplets on superhydrophobic carbon soot coatings

Despite the opportunity to manipulate the water freezing via superhydrophobic materials, their commercial use for passive icing protection is still questioned, since the combined effect of surface morphology, air cushion arrangement, roughness, chemistry and film thickness on the icephobic properties of a given non-wettable solid remains unexplored. This article addresses the existing research gaps by studying the ice nucleation dynamics at the contact line of various superhydrophobic soot-based surfaces, potentially applicable in cryobiology for enhancing the existing cryopreservation technologies. We examine the freezing time and freezing temperature of water droplets settled on three groups of soot coatings with divergent morphochemical features, adjusted by modifying the samples with alcohol, fluorocarbon and/or silver hydrogen fluoride. Our results demonstrate the appearance of a new “contour” freezing mode, where the droplet shell crystallizes simultaneously with the contact interface, whilst the soot's chemical bonds along with some of its physical characteristics govern the ice formation.     

Morphology optimization of solution blow spun polystyrene to obtain superhydrophobic materials with high ability of oil absorption

In this study, Polystyrene based materials, PS, with tailored morphologies are prepared by solution blow spinning, SBS. It is demonstrated that this tailored morphology of PS can be designed through the choice of particular SBS processing conditions. Several SBS processing conditions, including solution concentration, gas pressure and solution feeding rate are changed to consider their individual and combined effects on the final polymer morphology. The morphology of the PS samples is inspected by scanning electron microscopy, SEM. This morphology is analyzed in terms of fiber diameter and relative amount of fibers respect to other morphological features such as lumps or fibers aggregates. Coupling the experimental analysis with the use of Box-Behnken method and the desirability function, particular values of parameters controlling the SBS processing conditions are able to be obtained in order to achieve certain morphologies of PS, in particular, maximum amount of fibers with the minimum diameter. Influence of PS morphology on hydrophobicity and the ability of oil absorption is studied by contact angle measurements. The use of Box-Behnken design together with the desirability function is revealed as a reliable and accurate method for designing polystyrene materials through the optimal election of SBS processing conditions for the production of the polymer with particular morphologies and therefore, with especial performance regarding adsorption and absorption of liquid wastes. SBS PS constituted by the maximum amount of fibers with the shortest diameters lead to superhydrophobic materials with the highest ability of oil absorption for the PS.     

Superhydrophobic brocades modified with aligned ZnO nanorods

A superhydrophobic ZnO oriented nanorods coating on brocade substrate was prepared by a low-temperature wet chemical route, and the corresponding waterproof properties were evaluated. From wetting measurement, the modified brocades have a water contact angle of ∼152° and roll-off angle of 9° to a 10 μL water-droplet. A direct immersion of the modified brocades in water gives a strongly water-repellent behavior. The obtained waterproof brocades offer an opportunity for fabricating some special and protective drygoods.     

Room temperature synthesis of water-repellent polystyrene nanocomposite coating

A stable superhydrophobic polystyrene nanocomposite coating was fabricated by means of a very simple and easy method. The coating was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrum. The wettability of the products was also investigated. By adding the surface-modified SiO₂ nanoparticles, the wettability of the coating changed to water-repellent superhydrophobic, not only for pure water, but also for a wide pH range of corrosive liquids. The influence of the drying temperature and SiO₂ content on the wettability of the nanocomposite coating was also investigated. It was found that both factors had little or no significant effect on the wetting behavior of the coating surface.     

Easy fabrication of large-size superhydrophobic surfaces by atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization with non-polar aromatic hydrocarbon in an in-line process

We report on the formation of superhydrophobic surfaces on glass by plasma polymerization with non-polar aromatic hydrocarbon, at atmospheric pressure, in an in-line process. The glass was simply treated by radio frequency (RF) plasma with a mixture of toluene and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The hydrophobicity of the sample surfaces increase with increasing plasma treatments; contact angles of 150° for water droplets are achieved. It is attributed mainly to its high content of non-polar hydrophobic phenyl groups and its rough surface.     

Superhydrophobic nickel films fabricated by electro and electroless deposition

In this work, a superhydrophobic nickel surface is fabricated by coupling electro and electroless deposition without chemical modification. SEM study reveals that electrodeposited nickel surface is characterized by nanocone arrays and has a contact angle of about 135°. After adding electroless deposition, as the second step, hemispherically topped nickel nanocone arrays are formed which leads to a high contact angle of 153.6°. That is, nickel surface has successfully transformed from hydrophobic to superhydrophobic. This transition is investigated both from the aspects of chemical composition and surface structure and proves the latter is the dominant factor. The present study inspires us to do more research about the creation of rough surfaces and enriches our comprehension about superhydrophobicity.     

Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic surface with micro/nanoscale binary structures on aluminum substrate

The present work reports a simple method to produce the aluminum superhydrophobic surface based on an interface reaction between an aluminum foil and zinc aqueous solution. The products were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectrum. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy images show that the coating surface is composed of micro/nanoscale binary structure, which is similar to the structure of lotus leaf. The wettability of the coating surface was also investigated. It was found that after treatment with stearic acid, the wettability of the aluminum foil changed from superhydrophilic to water-repellent superhydrophobic. The complex micro/nanoscale binary structures along with the low surface energy lead to the high surface superhydrophobicity.     

反应离子刻蚀和自组装分子膜构建硅基底疏水与超疏水表面

采用反应离子刻蚀技术在Si(100)表面加工微米级圆柱阵列, 采用自组装技术分别制备了3种硅烷自组装分子膜. 结果表明, 采用反应离子刻蚀构建出的4种微米级圆柱阵列结构规整, 其直径为5 μm, 高度为10 μm, 间距为15~45 μm. 沉积自组装分子膜后, 试样表面的水接触角显著增大, 其中沉积1H,1H,2H,2H-全氟癸基三氯硅烷(FDTS)自组装分子膜接触角最大, 1H,1H,2H,2H-全氟辛烷基三氯硅烷(FOTS)次之, 三氯十八硅烷(OTS)最小. 测得的接触角大于150°时接近Cassie方程计算的接触角, 而小于150°时接近Wenzel方程计算的接触角. 改变圆柱阵列的间距和选择不同的自组装分子膜, 可以控制表面接触角的大小. 原子力显微镜(AFM)观测结果显示, 沉积自组装分子膜可以产生纳米级的团簇. 由微米级圆柱阵列和纳米级自组装分子膜构成的表面结构使Si试样表面接触角最大可达156.0°.