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Li L, Wei J, Zhang J, Li B, Yang Y, Zhang J. Challenges and strategies for commercialization and widespread practical applications of superhydrophobic surfaces. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj1554. [PMID: 37862425 PMCID: PMC10588945 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj1554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces have progressed rapidly in fundamental research over the past 20 years, but their practical applications lag far behind. In this perspective, we first present the findings of a survey on the current state of SH surfaces including fundamental research, patenting, and commercialization. On the basis of the survey and our experience, this perspective explores the challenges and strategies for commercialization and widespread practical applications of SH surfaces. The comprehensive performances, preparation methods, and application scenarios of SH surfaces are the major constraints. These challenges should be addressed simultaneously, and the actionable strategies are provided. We then highlight the standard test methods of the comprehensive performances including mechanical stability, impalement resistance, and weather resistance. Last, the prospects of SH surfaces in the future are discussed. We anticipate that SH surfaces may be widely commercialized and used in practical applications around the year 2035 through combination of the suggested strategies and input from both academia and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingxiao Li
- Center of Eco-Material and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jinfei Wei
- Center of Eco-Material and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, P.R. China
| | - Junping Zhang
- Center of Eco-Material and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, P.R. China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Bucheng Li
- Center of Eco-Material and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yanfei Yang
- Center of Eco-Material and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jiaojiao Zhang
- Center of Eco-Material and Green Chemistry, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, P.R. China
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Mehanna YA, Sadler E, Upton RL, Kempchinsky AG, Lu Y, Crick CR. The challenges, achievements and applications of submersible superhydrophobic materials. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:6569-6612. [PMID: 33889879 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01056a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Superhydrophobic materials have been widely reported throughout the scientific literature. Their properties originate from a highly rough morphology and inherently water repellent surface chemistry. Despite promising an array of functionalities, these materials have seen limited commercial development. This could be attributed to many factors, like material compatibility, low physical resilience, scaling-up complications, etc. In applications where persistent water contact is required, another limitation arises as a major concern, which is the stability of the air layer trapped at the surface when submerged or impacted by water. This review is aimed at examining the diverse array of research focused on monitoring/improving air layer stability, and highlighting the most successful approaches. The reported complexity of monitoring and enhancing air layer stability, in conjunction with the variety of approaches adopted, results in an assortment of suggested routes to achieving success. The review is addressing the challenge of finding a balance between maximising water repulsion and incorporating structures that protect air pockets from removal, along with challenges related to the variant approaches to testing air-layer stability across the research field, and the gap between the achieved progress and the required performance in real-life applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin A Mehanna
- Materials Innovation Factory, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK
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Park K, Kim JH, Kim BJ, Cho SJ, Hong J, Lim G. Direct Visualization of Microscale Dynamics of Water Droplets on under-Oil-Hydrophilic Membranes by Using Synchrotron White-Beam X-ray Microimaging Techniques. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:10548-10554. [PMID: 32787016 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite considerable academical and practical interests on separation of water-in-oil emulsion via special wettable membranes, fundamental understanding on microscale dynamics of water droplets on under-oil-hydrophilic membranes (UOHMs) at early stages during separation is still very preliminary due to temporal and spatial resolution of existing visualization techniques. To this end, we here succeed in a direct microscopic visualization of separation processes of water droplets on the UOHMs by employing a high-speed, two-dimensional synchrotron white-beam X-ray microimaging technique. During the separation of water-in-oil emulsion, microscale dynamic behaviors of water droplets on hydrophilic membrane surfaces immersed in the different oil media (i.e., hexane, kerosene, and light and heavy mineral oils) and oil films between water droplets and membrane surfaces are visualized and analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyungjin Park
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 37673 Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hyun Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77, Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL), Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung Jae Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong J Cho
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwoo Hong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Soongsil University, 369 Sang-doro, Sangdo-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Geunbae Lim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77, Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
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