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Ede SR, Yu H, Sung CH, Kisailus D. Bio-Inspired Functional Materials for Environmental Applications. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301227. [PMID: 38133492 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, there is an urgent need for advanced materials that can address existing and developing environmental issues. Many current synthesis processes are environmentally unfriendly and often lack control over size, shape, and phase of resulting materials. Based on knowledge from biological synthesis and assembly processes, as well as their resulting functions (e.g., photosynthesis, self-healing, anti-fouling, etc.), researchers are now beginning to leverage these biological blueprints to advance bio-inspired pathways for functional materials for water treatment, air purification and sensing. The result has been the development of novel materials that demonstrate enhanced performance and address sustainability. Here, an overview of the progress and potential of bio-inspired methods toward functional materials for environmental applications is provided. The challenges and opportunities for this rapidly expanding field and aim to provide a valuable resource for researchers and engineers interested in developing sustainable and efficient processes and technologies is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivasankara Rao Ede
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697, USA
| | - Haitao Yu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697, USA
| | - Chao Hsuan Sung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697, USA
| | - David Kisailus
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697, USA
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2
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Zhang H, Guo Z. Biomimetic materials in oil/water separation: Focusing on switchable wettabilities and applications. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 320:103003. [PMID: 37778250 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.103003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Clean water resources are crucial for human society, as the leakage and discharge of oily wastewater not only harm the economy but also disrupt our living environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for efficient oil-water separation technology. Surfaces with switchable superwetting behavior have garnered significant attention due to their importance in both fundamental research and practical applications. This review introduces the fundamental principles of wettability in the oil-water separation process, the basic theory of switchable wettability, and the mechanisms involved in oil-water separation. Subsequently, the review discusses the research progress, challenges, and issues associated with three conventional types of special wettability materials: superhydrophobic/superoleophilic materials, superhydrophilic/superoleophobic materials, and superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic materials. Most importantly, it provides a detailed exploration of recent advancements in switchable wettability smart materials, which combine elements of traditional special wettability materials. These include stimulus-responsive smart materials, pre-wetting-induced materials, and Janus materials. The discussion covers key response factors, detailed examples of representative works, design concepts, and fabrication strategies. Finally, the review offers a comprehensive summary of switchable superwetting smart materials, encompassing their advantages and disadvantages, persistent challenges, and future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, PR China
| | - Zhiguang Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
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3
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Du H, Zhao X, Wang X, Wang C, Liu Z, Wang H, Liu F. Surfactant-Free Emulsion of Epoxy Resin/Sodium Alginate for Achieving Robust Underwater Superoleophobic Coating via a Combination of Phase Separation and Biomineralization. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 642:488-496. [PMID: 37023520 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.03.166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Underwater superoleophobic coatings exhibit promising prospects in the field of oil contamination resistance. However, their poor durability, stemming from the fragile structures and unstable hydrophilicity, greatly restricted their development. In this report, we proposed a novel strategy of combination water-induced phase separation and biomineralization to prepare the robust underwater superoleophobic epoxy resin-calcium alginate (EP-CA) coating by utilizing a surfactant-free emulsion of epoxy resin/sodium alginate (EP/SA). The EP-CA coating not only exhibited excellent adhesion to various substrates, but also had remarkable resistance to the physical/chemical attacks such as abrasion, acid, alkali and salt. It could also protect the substrate (e.g., PET substrate) from the damage of organic solution and the fouling of crude oil. This report provides a new perspective to fabricate robust superhydrophilic coating with a facile way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhong Du
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, PR China
| | - Xingjian Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, PR China
| | - Xinran Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, PR China
| | - Chijia Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, PR China
| | - Zhanjian Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, PR China
| | - Huaiyuan Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, PR China; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, and State Key Laboratory for Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
| | - Fatang Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, PR China; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, and State Key Laboratory for Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, PR China.
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4
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Xu Y, Xu T, Guo Y, Liu W, Wang J. Scalable and biomimetic anti-oil-fouling photothermal fabric for efficient solar-driven interfacial evaporation. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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5
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Chen J, Wu J, Zhong Y, Ma X, Lv W, Zhao H, Zhu J, Yan N. Multifunctional superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic lignin-based polyurethane foam for highly efficient oil-water separation and water purification. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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6
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Li M, Zhou S, Guan Q, Li W, Li C, Bouville F, Bai H, Saiz E. Robust Underwater Oil-Repellent Biomimetic Ceramic Surfaces: Combining the Stability and Reproducibility of Functional Structures. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:46077-46085. [PMID: 36169925 PMCID: PMC9562273 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c13857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Robust underwater oil-repellent materials combining high mechanical strength and durability with superwettability and low oil adhesion are needed to build oil-repellent devices able to work in water, to manipulate droplet behavior, etc. However, combining all of these properties within a single, durable material remains a challenge. Herein, we fabricate a robust underwater oil-resistant material (Al2O3) with all of the above properties by gel casting. The micro/nanoceramic particles distributed on the surface endow the material with excellent underwater superoleophobicity (∼160°) and low oil adhesion (<4 μN). In addition, the substrate exhibits typical ceramic characteristics such as good antiacid/alkali properties, high salt resistance, and high load tolerance. These excellent properties make the material not only applicable to various liquid environments but also resistant to the impact of particles and other physical damage. More importantly, the substrate could still exhibit underwater superoleophobicity after being worn under specific conditions, as wear will create new surfaces with similar particle size distribution. This approach is easily scalable for mass production, which could open a pathway for the fabrication of practical underwater long-lasting functional interfacial materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Centre
of Advanced Structural Ceramics, Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Shitong Zhou
- Centre
of Advanced Structural Ceramics, Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Qingwen Guan
- School
of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
| | - Weijun Li
- State
Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen
University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Chang Li
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering, City and Guilds Building, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Florian Bouville
- Centre
of Advanced Structural Ceramics, Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Hao Bai
- State
Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological
Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Eduardo Saiz
- Centre
of Advanced Structural Ceramics, Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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7
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Nacre-inspired underwater superoleophobic films with high transparency and mechanical robustness. Nat Protoc 2022; 17:2647-2667. [PMID: 35970874 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00725-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Underwater superoleophobic materials have attracted increasing attention because of their remarkable potential applications, especially antifouling, self-cleaning and oil-water separation. A limitation of most superoleophobic materials is that they are non-transparent and have limited mechanical stability underwater. Here, we report a protocol for preparing a transparent and robust superoleophobic film that can be used underwater. It is formed by a hydrogel layer prepared by the superspreading of chitosan solution on a superhydrophilic substrate and biomimetic mineralization of this layer. In contrast to conventional hydrogel-based materials, this film exhibits significantly improved mechanical properties because of the combination of high-energy, ordered, inorganic aragonite (one crystalline polymorph of calcium carbonate) and homogeneous external hierarchical micro/nano structures, leading to robust underwater superoleophobicity and ultralow oil adhesion. Moreover, the mineralized film is suitable for neutral and alkaline environments and for containing organic solvent underwater and can be coated on different transparent materials, which has promising applications in underwater optics, miniature reactors and microfluidic devices. In this protocol, the time for the whole biomimetic mineralization process is only ~6 h, which is significantly shorter than that of traditional methods, such as gas diffusion and the Kitano method. The protocol can be completed in ~2 weeks and is suitable for researchers with intermediate expertise in organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry.
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Wang T, Wang Z. Liquid-Repellent Surfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:9073-9084. [PMID: 35857533 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Surfaces are vibrant sites for various activities with environments, especially as the transfer station for mass and energy exchange. In nature, natural creatures exhibit special wetting and interfacial properties such as water repellency and water affinity to adapt to various environmental challenges by taking advantage of air or liquid infusion media. Inspired by natural surfaces, various engineered liquid-repellent surfaces have been developed with a wide range of applications in both open and closed underwater environments. In particular, underwater conditions are characterized by high viscosity, high pressure, and complex compositions, which pose more challenges for the design of robust and functional repellent surfaces. In this Perspective, we take a parallel approach to introduce two classical liquid-repellent surfaces: an air-infused repellent surface and a lubricated liquid-repellent surface. Then we highlight fundamental challenges and design configurations of robust liquid-repellent surfaces both in air and underwater. We summarize the advantages and drawbacks of two kinds of repellent surfaces and list several applications of liquid-repellent surfaces for use in the ocean, medical care, and energy harvesting. Finally, we provide an outlook of research directions for robust liquid-repellent surfaces.
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Bio-inspired robust superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic coating with lubrication, anti-crude oil fouling and anti-corrosion performances. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 616:720-729. [PMID: 35247810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The crude oil spill accidents cause numerous crude oil contaminations and oily wastewater. Underwater superoleophobic coating has excellent ability to resist crude oil contamination and separate oily wastewater. But it's hard to keep stable performance against the physical or chemical attack. Herein, a robust underwater superoleophobic coating was fabricated by spraying the mixture of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and TiO2 on epoxy resin (E44) surface. Besides the good physical and chemical stability, the coating exhibited better drag reduction, anti-fouling performance and anti-corrosive performance in water compared with the commercially hydrophilic coating. The stainless steel mesh (SSM), coated by the E44/PEI/TiO2 coating, could separate different oil-water emulsions with a high oil rejection greater than 99.7%.
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Chen F, Wang Y, Tian Y, Zhang D, Song J, Crick CR, Carmalt CJ, Parkin IP, Lu Y. Robust and durable liquid-repellent surfaces. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:8476-8583. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01033b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
This review provides a comprehensive summary of characterization, design, fabrication, and application of robust and durable liquid-repellent surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faze Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Key Laboratory of Mechanism Theory and Equipment Design of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yaquan Wang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Yanling Tian
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Dawei Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Key Laboratory of Mechanism Theory and Equipment Design of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jinlong Song
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Colin R. Crick
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Claire J. Carmalt
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Ivan P. Parkin
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Yao Lu
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
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11
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Liu F, Du H, Zhao X, Wang X, Wang C, Liu Z, Wang H. Ultrafast Fabrication of a Robust Superwetting Coating. Ind Eng Chem Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.1c02814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fatang Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, and State Key Laboratory for Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
| | - Hongzhong Du
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, P. R. China
| | - Xingjian Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, P. R. China
| | - Xinran Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, P. R. China
| | - Chijia Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, P. R. China
| | - Zhanjian Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, P. R. China
| | - Huaiyuan Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, and State Key Laboratory for Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China
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