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Molecules
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Wettability Control Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and Applications
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Wettability Control Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and Applications

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2024) | Viewed by 9453

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hui Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Interests: functional micro-/nanomaterials; thermal protection technique for aircraft
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Wettability control materials are of great value and can be widely used in areas such as self-cleaning, oil–water separation, anti-fog and anti-icing, anti-corrosion, anti-fouling, micro-droplet operation, microfluidics, lab-on-chip, cell engineering, etc. Understanding and engineering the surface wettability is important for promoting its application and consequently bringing huge economic benefits to society. At present, research on surface wettability control includes superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic surfaces, synthesis of micro-/nano-structures, surface chemical modification, laser processing of micro-/nano-structures, multifunctional coatings (photothermal, electro-thermal, etc.), the dynamics and phase transition characteristics of droplets on surfaces with different wettability, etc., but there is still much room for improvement. This Special Issue aims to collect the latest progress in both fundamental and applied research on various types of wettability control materials, so as to provide an exhaustive overview of the state of the art and future trends. Submissions are welcome on topics including, but not limited to, those listed below:

  • Micro-/nano-structured surfaces with different wettability;
  • Surface chemical modification methods;
  • Laser processing of micro-/nano-structures for wettability control;
  • Dynamics and phase transition characteristics of droplets on surface;
  • Photothermal/electro-thermal;
  • Mechanism of wettability control;
  • Applications and technological issues.

Prof. Dr. Hui Gao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wettability
  • micro-/nano-structured surface
  • superhydrophobic
  • superhydrophilic
  • chemical modification
  • laser processing
  • surface and interface

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 7520 KiB  
Article
Engineering Thermoresponsive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-Based Films with Enhanced Stability and Reusability for Efficient Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture and Harvesting
by Lei Yang, Luqiao Sun, Yuanyuan Sun, Guangwei Qiu, Xiaoguang Fan, Qing Sun and Guang Lu
Molecules 2024, 29(18), 4481; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29184481 - 21 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1232
Abstract
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) offers a promising platform for non-invasive and gentle cell detachment. However, conventional PNIPAM-based substrates often suffer from limitations including limited stability and reduced reusability, which hinder their widespread adoption in biomedical applications. In this study, PNIPAM copolymer films were [...] Read more.
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) offers a promising platform for non-invasive and gentle cell detachment. However, conventional PNIPAM-based substrates often suffer from limitations including limited stability and reduced reusability, which hinder their widespread adoption in biomedical applications. In this study, PNIPAM copolymer films were formed on the surfaces of glass slides or silicon wafers using a two-step film-forming method involving coating and grafting. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis of the films’ surface wettability, topography, and thickness was conducted using a variety of techniques, including contact angle analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ellipsometric measurements. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) were then seeded onto PNIPAM copolymer films prepared from different copolymer solution concentrations, ranging from 0.2 to 10 mg·mL−1, to select the optimal culture substrate that allowed for good cell growth at 37 °C and effective cell detachment through temperature reduction. Furthermore, the stability and reusability of the optimal copolymer films were assessed. Finally, AFM and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to examine the surface morphology and elemental composition of the copolymer films after two rounds of BMMSC adhesion and detachment. The findings revealed that the surface properties and overall characteristics of PNIPAM copolymer films varied significantly with the solution concentration. Based on the selection criteria, the copolymer films derived from 1 mg·mL−1 solution were identified as the optimal culture substrates for BMMSCs. After two rounds of cellular adhesion and detachment, some proteins remained on the film surfaces, acting as a foundation for subsequent cellular re-adhesion and growth, thereby implicitly corroborating the practicability and reusability of the copolymer films. This study not only introduces a stable and efficient platform for stem cell culture and harvesting but also represents a significant advance in the fabrication of smart materials tailored for biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wettability Control Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and Applications)
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20 pages, 21978 KiB  
Article
Investigation and Analysis of Wettability, Anisotropy, and Adhesion in Bionic Upper and Lower Surfaces Inspired by Indocalamus Leaves
by Bo Wang, Donghui Chen, Xiao Yang and Ming Li
Molecules 2024, 29(15), 3449; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29153449 - 23 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1069
Abstract
Nature provides us with a wealth of inspiration for the design of bionic functional surfaces. Numerous types of plant leaves with exceptional wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion are extensively employed in many engineering applications. Inspired by the wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion of indocalamus leaves, [...] Read more.
Nature provides us with a wealth of inspiration for the design of bionic functional surfaces. Numerous types of plant leaves with exceptional wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion are extensively employed in many engineering applications. Inspired by the wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion of indocalamus leaves, bionic upper and lower surfaces (BUSs and BLSs) of the indocalamus leaf were successfully prepared using a facile approach combining laser scanning and chemical modification. The results demonstrated the BUSs and BLSs obtained similar structural features to the upper and lower surfaces of the indocalamus leaf and exhibited enhanced and more-controllable wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion. More importantly, we conducted a detailed comparative analysis of the wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion between BUSs and BLSs. Finally, BUSs and BLSs were also explored for the corresponding potential applications, including self-cleaning, liquid manipulation, and fog collection, thereby broadening their practical utility. We believe that this study can contribute to the enrichment of the research on novel biological models and provide significant insights into the development of multifunctional bionic surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wettability Control Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and Applications)
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13 pages, 3478 KiB  
Article
Self-Assembled Monolayers of a Fluorinated Phosphonic Acid as a Protective Coating on Aluminum
by Zhuoqi Duan, Zaixin Xie, Yongmao Hu, Jiawen Xu, Jun Ren, Yu Liu and Heng-Yong Nie
Molecules 2024, 29(3), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030706 - 3 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2018
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) placed in hot water (HW) at 90 °C is roughened due to its reaction with water, forming Al hydroxide and Al oxide, as well as releasing hydrogen gas. The roughened surface is thus hydrophilic and possesses a hugely increased surface area, [...] Read more.
Aluminum (Al) placed in hot water (HW) at 90 °C is roughened due to its reaction with water, forming Al hydroxide and Al oxide, as well as releasing hydrogen gas. The roughened surface is thus hydrophilic and possesses a hugely increased surface area, which can be useful in applications requiring hydrophilicity and increased surface area, such as atmospheric moisture harvesting. On the other hand, when using HW to roughen specified areas of an Al substrate, ways to protect the other areas from HW attacks are necessary. We demonstrated that self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of a fluorinated phosphonic acid (FPA, CF3(CF2)13(CH2)2P(=O)(OH)2) derivatized on the native oxide of an Al film protected the underneath metal substrate from HW attack. The intact wettability and surface morphology of FPA-derivatized Al subjected to HW treatment were examined using contact angle measurement, and scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Moreover, the surface and interface chemistry of FPA-derivatized Al before and after HW treatment were investigated by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), verifying that the FPA SAMs were intact upon HW treatment. The ToF-SIMS results therefore explained, on the molecular level, why HW treatment did not affect the underneath Al at all. FPA derivatization is thus expected to be developed as a patterning method for the formation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas on Al when combined with HW treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wettability Control Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and Applications)
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14 pages, 3233 KiB  
Article
Reversible Surface Energy Storage in Molecular-Scale Porous Materials
by Dusan Bratko
Molecules 2024, 29(3), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030664 - 31 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1290
Abstract
Forcible wetting of hydrophobic pores represents a viable method for energy storage in the form of interfacial energy. The energy used to fill the pores can be recovered as pressure–volume work upon decompression. For efficient recovery, the expulsion pressure should not be significantly [...] Read more.
Forcible wetting of hydrophobic pores represents a viable method for energy storage in the form of interfacial energy. The energy used to fill the pores can be recovered as pressure–volume work upon decompression. For efficient recovery, the expulsion pressure should not be significantly lower than the pressure required for infiltration. Hysteresis of the wetting/drying cycle associated with the kinetic barrier to liquid expulsion results in energy dissipation and reduced storage efficiency. In the present work, we use open ensemble (Grand Canonical) Monte Carlo simulations to study the improvement of energy recovery with decreasing diameters of planar pores. Near-complete reversibility is achieved at pore widths barely accommodating a monolayer of the liquid, thus minimizing the area of the liquid/gas interface during the cavitation process. At the same time, these conditions lead to a steep increase in the infiltration pressure required to overcome steric wall/water repulsion in a tight confinement and a considerable reduction in the translational entropy of confined molecules. In principle, similar effects can be expected when increasing the size of the liquid particles without altering the absorbent porosity. While the latter approach is easier to follow in laboratory work, we discuss the advantages of reducing the pore diameter, which reduces the cycling hysteresis while simultaneously improving the stored-energy density in the material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wettability Control Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and Applications)
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Review

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27 pages, 7994 KiB  
Review
Superhydrophobic Non-Metallic Surfaces with Multiscale Nano/Micro-Structure: Fabrication and Application
by Qi Guo, Jieyin Ma, Tianjun Yin, Haichuan Jin, Jiaxiang Zheng and Hui Gao
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 2098; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092098 - 1 May 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2643
Abstract
Multiscale nano/micro-structured surfaces with superhydrophobicity are abundantly observed in nature such as lotus leaves, rose petals and butterfly wings, where microstructures typically reinforce mechanical stability, while nanostructures predominantly govern wettability. To emulate such hierarchical structures in nature, various methods have been widely applied [...] Read more.
Multiscale nano/micro-structured surfaces with superhydrophobicity are abundantly observed in nature such as lotus leaves, rose petals and butterfly wings, where microstructures typically reinforce mechanical stability, while nanostructures predominantly govern wettability. To emulate such hierarchical structures in nature, various methods have been widely applied in the past few decades to the manufacture of multiscale structures which can be applied to functionalities ranging from anti-icing and water–oil separation to self-cleaning. In this review, we highlight recent advances in nano/micro-structured superhydrophobic surfaces, with particular focus on non-metallic materials as they are widely used in daily life due to their lightweight, abrasion resistance and ease of processing properties. This review is organized into three sections. First, fabrication methods of multiscale hierarchical structures are introduced with their strengths and weaknesses. Second, four main application areas of anti-icing, water–oil separation, anti-fog and self-cleaning are overviewed by assessing how and why multiscale structures need to be incorporated to carry out their performances. Finally, future directions and challenges for nano/micro-structured surfaces are presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wettability Control Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and Applications)
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