Search Results (623)

Laser micro/nanoprocessing has emerged as an effective strategy for the fabrication of superhydrophobic and superamphiphobic surfaces owing to its high precision, broad material compatibility, and flexible processing capability. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in laser-based fabrication of functional wetting interfaces. The two primary processing pathways, laser ablation and laser-induced structuring, are comparatively discussed, with emphasis on the processing–structure–property relationships of metallic, polymeric, and ceramic substrates. Representative applications, including anti-icing and anti-frosting, anti-fogging, corrosion resistance, oil–water separation, and antibacterial surfaces, are further reviewed to highlight the engineering potential of laser-fabricated superhydrophobic interfaces. Despite significant progress, challenges related to processing efficiency, long-term durability, fabrication cost, and process controllability remain. Future research is expected to focus on intelligent process optimization, high-throughput manufacturing, environmentally friendly modification strategies, and multifunctional integration, thereby accelerating the transition of laser-fabricated superhydrophobic surfaces from laboratory research to large-scale industrial applications. Full article

Enhancing the ampacity of existing overhead transmission conductors through surface heat-dissipation regulation is important for grid capacity expansion. Herein, a superhydrophobic radiative heat-dissipating conductor was fabricated by combining phosphoric acid anodization with low-surface-energy modification. Porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layers were in situ constructed on ACSR conductors under different anodizing current densities and oxidation times, followed by modification with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane or 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane to obtain H-AAO and F-AAO conductors, respectively. The surface morphology, optical properties, wettability, electrical resistance, current-induced temperature rise, and aging stability were systematically evaluated. The porous AAO layer enhanced the broadband infrared emissivity of the conductor surface while maintaining relatively high solar-band reflectance. The F-AAO conductor exhibited a water contact angle of 164.9° and a sliding angle of 1.8°, confirming excellent super-hydrophobicity. At 450 A, the steady-state temperature of the F-AAO conductor decreased from 106.85 °C for the Bare conductor to 75.34 °C. Under a 70 °C temperature limit, the allowable current increased from 343.58 to 431.57 A, corresponding to a 25.6% enhancement. Moreover, the F-AAO conductor retained stable heat-dissipation performance after 28 days of thermal aging. These findings demonstrate that anodization-assisted surface engineering is a feasible strategy for improving radiative heat dissipation, environmental adaptability, and current-carrying performance of overhead transmission conductors. Full article

Raw lacquer, a natural polymer derived from the bast of lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), is renowned as the “King of Coatings” due to its exceptional film-forming properties, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. However, its inherent limitations—including stringent drying conditions, slow curing rates, deep coloration, and difficult application—have severely restricted its modernization and widespread adoption. This review systematically summarizes recent research advances in the modification and application of raw lacquer, focusing on four major modification strategies: (1) Nanocomposite modification—incorporating functional nanofillers such as Al₂O₃, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), polydopamine (PDA) melanin-like nanoparticles, and SiO₂ to significantly enhance film hardness, compactness, UV-aging resistance, and drying kinetics. (2) Chemical structure modification—employing molecular design strategies including aminoanthraquinone grafting, tung oil blending, water-based emulsification, and terpene/allyl group functionalization to improve hydrophobicity, flexibility, fast-drying properties, and achieve dual photo/oxygen curing. (3) Biomass synergistic composites—utilizing natural polymers such as chitosan and lignin, along with bio-inspired adhesion mechanisms (e.g., PDA), to confer advanced functionalities including antibacterial and antifouling properties. (4) Curing behavior regulation—precisely controlling drying kinetics through inorganic salt ion microenvironment engineering, nonionic surfactants, and salicylaldehyde Schiff base-based driers. Building upon these foundations, this review further expands on the emerging high-value applications of modified lacquer in preventive conservation of cultural heritage, advanced functional coatings (anti-corrosion, super-hydrophobicity, flame retardancy), biomedical materials (hemostasis, antibacterial activity, drug-controlled release, water treatment adsorption), and intelligent responsive flexible electronics. Finally, addressing challenges including weak fundamental research, bottlenecks in green industrialization, and lack of standardization, future development directions are proposed encompassing interdisciplinary innovation, sustainable modification strategies, integration of multifunctional intelligent systems, and big data-driven research paradigms, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and technical references for the high-value utilization and modernization of lacquer resources. Full article

Superhydrophobic antibacterial coatings offer an effective approach to overcoming the limitations of single anti-adhesion or bactericidal strategies; however, it remains a great challenge to develop such coatings with long-term durability and high bactericidal performance. In this study, a ZT/PDMS composite coating was successfully fabricated by directly mixing ZnO@TiO₂ with PDMS. Benefiting from the low surface energy of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and the coral-like micro/nanostructured rough morphology generated by the incorporation of ZnO@TiO₂ nanoparticles, the coating exhibited excellent superhydrophobic properties, with a water contact angle of 153.5°. The proposed fabrication method showed good adaptability to various substrates, and the resulting coating demonstrated outstanding durability and self-cleaning performance. Notably, the coating retained superhydrophobicity after six abrasion cycles, and the water contact angle remained above 140° after immersion in solutions with pH ranging from 1 to 13 for 7 days. The ZT/PDMS composite coating achieved an antibacterial adhesion rate of 87.98% and 80.11% against Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), respectively. Under UV and visible light irradiation, its bactericidal efficiency exceeded 90%. The excellent antibacterial performance of the coating was attributed to the synergistic effects of anti-adhesion, active sterilization (Zn²⁺ release and ROS generation), and self-cleaning. This study provides a facile and effective strategy for the development of efficient and durable multifunctional antibacterial coatings. Full article

Superhydrophobic fiber films, as a typical superhydrophobic material, have advantages such as self-cleaning, non-wettability, and pollution resistance. They can be widely used in oil-water separation, antibacterial, anti-pollution, anti-icing, and self-cleaning fields. Traditional electrospun superhydrophobic fiber films face difficulties in fabricating fibers with large contact angles due to the non-Newtonian fluid flow and Taylor cone jet trajectory limitations. To address this challenge, this study develops a novel ultrasonic-magnetic field coupling electrospinning strategy for fabricating poly(methyl methacrylate)-polystyrene (PMMA-PS) fibrous films with enhanced superhydrophobicity. Physical, chemical, and contact angle measurements were used to analyze the morphology, composition, and hydrophobic properties of the fabricated films. The results showed that by controlling the blend ratio of PMMA and PS and optimizing the electrospinning process with ultrasonic vibration and magnetic field coupling, PMMA-PS fibers with better fiber refinement, closer spindle-shaped arrangements, and significantly increased roughness were successfully fabricated. When using 15% PMMA and 15% PS solutions, the static contact angle of the resulting fiber films reached 173.1°, demonstrating the best superhydrophobicity. The study suggests that optimizing the surface morphology of the nanofibers is an effective method to improve hydrophobicity and provides a new approach for fabricating superhydrophobic fiber films. Full article

Water-induced deterioration of silty soil subgrade in the lower Yellow River floodplain poses a critical, long-standing engineering challenge. Most existing studies on silty soil modification prioritize strength enhancement via traditional cementitious binders (i.e., cement, lime), yet these strategies fail to fundamentally block water migration in the soil matrix. A distinct scientific gap persists: the capillary water inhibition mechanism of nano-superhydrophobic modified Yellow River alluvial silt, along with the correlation between its microstructural evolution and macroscopic engineering performance, has yet to be systematically elucidated. To fill this gap, we conducted hydrophobic modification of the targeted silt using a nano-superhydrophobic material (NSHM), and performed a systematic suite of laboratory tests to characterize its hydrophobicity, mechanical properties, water stability, and microstructural characteristics. Quantitative experimental results demonstrate that NSHM imparts remarkable water resistance to the silt: at an NSHM dosage ≥0.5%, the modified soil exhibits stable superhydrophobicity across all tested compaction degrees, with over a 99% reduction in saturated hydraulic conductivity. Notably, the hydrophobic modification only incurs a <12% reduction in the dry unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the silt. Microscopic characterization results reveal that NSHM modifies the silt via two core pathways: uniform particle encapsulation and pore infilling, without altering the inherent mineral functional groups of the soil. This microstructural regulation reduces the average pore diameter by 38.2% and total porosity by 15.6%, while optimizing the uniformity of pore size distribution. Based on comprehensive evaluation of overall performance, a minimum NSHM dosage of 0.5% is recommended for in situ application in local silty soil subgrade. This study provides critical theoretical guidance and technical support for water damage mitigation in alluvial silty soil subgrade. Full article

The inefficient utilization of industrial by-product phosphogypsum, coupled with the increasing global demand for cooling, has spurred the development of sustainable radiative cooling materials. Compared with conventional cooling coatings that primarily rely on expensive synthetic materials or complex fabrication processes, this study provides a promising cost-effective and sustainable route for integrating industrial solid waste valorization with zero-energy cooling technologies. In this study, we fabricated a composite coating (β-HPG@CA/SiO₂@OTS) consisting of β-hemihydrate phosphogypsum (β-HPG), a derivative product of phosphogypsum, cellulose acetate (CA), SiO₂ particles and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) by a facile combination of blade coating and spraying, which exhibited strong solar reflectivity (90.9%), high mid-infrared emissivity (98.7%) and satisfactory superhydrophobicity (157°). The as-prepared composite achieved an ambient temperature drop of 18.7 °C under direct sunlight during sunny weather, achieving a net cooling power of 92.23 W/m². Meanwhile, the composite coating exhibits excellent durability after prolonged immersion in strongly acidic and alkaline solutions, ultraviolet radiation and outdoor testing. Owing to its simple fabrication process and robust cooling performance, this coating shows promise for scalable production and practical outdoor applications, such as building envelopes and equipment enclosures. Full article

To address the drag reduction requirements of superhydrophobic surface coatings for underwater vehicle hulls, this study designed a synthesis method based on resin substrate modification and filler modification according to superhydrophobic coating synthesis techniques. Three types of superhydrophobic microstructured surface coatings were prepared: polyurethane resin, silicone resin, and fluororesin. The coatings were fabricated by incorporating fluorine-modified SiO₂ nanoparticles into the modified resin matrices to construct hierarchical micro/nanostructures. The main components and synthesis processes for each coating were determined. Performance tests were conducted to evaluate mechanical properties (thickness, hardness, adhesion, wear resistance), functional characteristics (surface morphology, static/dynamic hydrophobic angles), and environmental resistance (seawater immersion, salt spray stability, thermal stability). Five surface coating test plans for underwater vehicle hull models were proposed, and drag reduction experiments were carried out to compare total drag, drag coefficient, and drag reduction rate across coating plans. Experimental results indicated that the silicone resin superhydrophobic coating with F660 + 8% SiO₂ exhibited the best comprehensive performance, while the PU + 6% SiO₂ superhydrophobic coating achieved optimal drag reduction at speeds below 9 m/s, meeting the performance criteria for underwater vehicle hull applications. Full article

The development of interface-engineered, multifunctional nanostructured materials with controllable surface and magnetic properties remains a critical challenge in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. In this work, a novel GO–CoFe₂O₄–Silicone Magnetic Sponge was successfully fabricated through the integration of graphene oxide and CoFe₂O₄ magnetic nanoparticles within a silicone-modified porous sponge matrix. The resulting material combines superhydrophobicity, oleophilicity, high adsorption capacity, and magnetic responsiveness in a single architecture. The prepared sponge exhibited a high water contact angle of 161.5°, confirming its superhydrophobic nature, while maintaining excellent structural integrity during repeated use. Vibrating sample magnetometry revealed clear ferrimagnetic behavior, enabling rapid magnetic manipulation and efficient recovery of the sponge from aqueous media. The GO–CoFe₂O₄–Silicone Magnetic Sponge demonstrated strong adsorption performance toward a wide range of oils and organic solvents, including chloroform, olive oil, toluene, ethanol, acetone, gasoline, and hexane, with adsorption capacities remaining stable over multiple cycles. Furthermore, the sponge showed outstanding separation efficiency exceeding 98.3% for various oil/water and organic solvent/water mixtures, both in batch and continuous vacuum-assisted separation systems. The adsorption capacity and separation efficiency were retained after repeated adsorption–desorption cycles, indicating excellent reusability and durability. Owing to its synergistic combination of surface chemistry, porous structure, and magnetic functionality, the GO–CoFe₂O₄–Silicone Magnetic Sponge represents a promising candidate for practical applications in oil spill cleanup and wastewater treatment. Full article

Superhydrophobic materials have clear potential for mitigating rain/humidity-induced damage to cultural heritage. In the present study, the wetting properties of Paraloid B72 were tailored to achieve superhydrophobicity by incorporating modified calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanoparticles (NPs). B72 is a well-established conservation product while CaCO₃ is chemically compatible with calcareous materials commonly found in cultural heritage buildings and objects. Initially, the wettabilities of CaCO₃ NPs, functionalised with caproic (C6), caprylic (C8), lauric (C12), myristic (C14), palmitic (C16), and stearic (C18) acid, were evaluated by measuring water contact angles (CAs) on NP pellets. For NPs with short hydrocarbon chains, CA increased with chain length, from 66.3° for CaCO₃-C6 to 118.0° for CaCO₃-C12 NPs. For NPs with longer chains, CA remained stable and around 118°. Based on these results, CaCO₃-C12 NPs were selected for further investigation and subjected to transmission electron microscopy analysis, which revealed chain-like agglomerates of aggregated nanocrystallites (5–10 nm) forming 40–150 nm polycrystalline NPs. Scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with elemental mapping revealed a homogeneous distribution of Ca, C, and O within the NPs. Next, CaCO₃-C12 NPs were dispersed in B72 solutions and sprayed onto limestone, which was employed as a model calcite-rich substrate. At optimal NP concentration, the resulting composite coating exhibited superhydrophobicity (CA > 150°), while it induced minimal colour alteration to limestone and effective resistance to capillary water absorption. The fluorine-free coating also demonstrated good durability against UV exposure, drop impact, salt attack, freeze–thaw cycles, tape peeling, drop pH variations, and thermal treatment. Full article

In this study, by using four different silicon sources obtained from Konya, Turkey, and its surroundings and employing the sol–gel method, we aim to synthesize silica-based aerogel, characterize it, and improve the use of the innovative building material as a thermal insulator in architectural applications. In this direction, silica aerogel production was carried out using four different starting materials (commercial casting sand, waste casting sand, radiolarite, and quartz) and five different pH values (2–4–6–8–9) by the sol–gel method. The produced silica aerogels were subjected to a surface modification process with Trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS), a modification chemical, and then superhydrophobic silica aerogel powder was obtained. In terms of characterization of the obtained final silica aerogels, XRF, XRD, ICP-OES, density study, FT-IR, BET, FESEM, and contact angle studies were performed. In terms of application of the architectural building material, plasterboard experimental samples were produced using low reinforcement rates (0 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, and 5 wt%) of silica aerogel. To determine the mechanical and physical properties of the produced silica-aerogel-reinforced plasterboard samples, three-point bend (flexural) strength, compressive strength, thermal conductivity, and water absorption tests were applied. After surface modification, the lowest density value was 0.340 g/cm³, the highest surface area was 311.161 m²/g, and the lowest thermal conductivity coefficient was 0.29 W/mK in silica aerogel material containing radiolarite. In addition to high reinforcement contents in the literature, when it comes to silica aerogel low-reinforcement material and mechanical properties, it can be stated that increasing reinforcement contents negatively affects the mechanical behavior of the material after a certain value. Full article

Particle deposition, rebound, and adhesion on rough surfaces play a crucial role in a wide range of powder handling, aerosol transport, and fouling-related processes. However, the underlying mechanisms governing single-particle interactions with rough surfaces, particularly those with complex surface morphologies, remain insufficiently understood. In this work, the deposition and elastic rebound behavior of an individual particle impacting superhydrophobic surfaces with ribbed and randomly distributed roughness structures are systematically investigated through a combined experimental and numerical approach. A coupled Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) and Discrete Particle Model (DPM) was developed, in which a new particle–surface contact model is proposed to account for adhesion, elastic deformation, and localized roughness effects through multi-node interactions. Randomly distributed rough surfaces are reconstructed using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-based method, and single-particle impact experiments are conducted to validate the numerical predictions. Good agreement is achieved between simulated and measured values, with a relative error for the maximum rebound height of only 5.9% and a peak velocity deviation prior to impact of approximately 5.4%. Parametric analyses demonstrate that particle diameter, Young’s modulus, surface energy, surface roughness morphology, and flow Reynolds number all influence particle deposition outcomes. Larger particles exhibit significantly higher rebound heights due to increased stored elastic energy; specifically, when particle size increases from 20 μm to 100 μm, the maximum rebound height increases by a factor of 2.1. In contrast, smaller particles are more prone to adhesion after repeated impacts. The rebound height of particles decreases as surface energy increases. When surface energy rises from 0.01 J/m² to 0.05 J/m², rebound height drops from 53.65% to 38.66%. At 0.5 J/m², particles adhere immediately. Compared with ribbed surfaces, randomly distributed rough surfaces promote particle rebound by reducing effective contact area and inducing complex impact orientations. Particle rebound behavior is primarily governed by particle diameter, while material properties such as Young’s modulus and surface energy exhibit secondary and nonlinear effects. The proposed model provides a validated and transferable framework for analyzing particle–surface interactions on rough surfaces and offers physical insights relevant to the control of particle deposition in powder and particulate systems. Full article

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a widely used commodity polymer owing to its low cost, excellent mechanical properties, and high processability. Chemical modification of PET surfaces to impart specific functionalities represents an effective strategy for transforming PET into high-value-added materials without altering its bulk properties. In this study, we investigated the surface functionalization of PET substrates using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). ATRP initiation sites were introduced onto PET surfaces through mild surface hydrolysis followed by polyethyleneimine coating. To further enhance the grafting density, an inimer-based strategy was employed, in which a bifunctional monomer containing both a polymerizable group and a latent initiation site was used to form hyperbranched polymer structures on the PET surface, thereby amplifying the number of active initiation sites. Using these modified PET substrates, SI-ATRP of functional methacrylate monomers was successfully carried out. Grafting of poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate) imparted highly hydrophobic surface properties, yielding water contact angles above 120°, whereas grafting of poly([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride) produced hydrophilic surfaces with contact angles below 20°. Surface characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed successful graft polymerization and effective surface coverage. While the macroscopic wettability was primarily governed by the chemical nature of the grafted polymers, the inimer-based initiation-site amplification significantly enhanced the surface electrostatic properties of the polycationic polymer–grafted surfaces, increasing the ζ-potential from approximately +20 mV to over +100 mV. Antibacterial tests using Escherichia coli K-12 as a model bacterium demonstrated that PET substrates grafted with poly([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride) exhibited clear contact-active antibacterial activity, achieving up to 2-log reduction in viable bacterial counts after 3 h of contact incubation. These results highlight the importance of molecular-level control of grafting architecture and surface electrostatic properties in the design of functional antibacterial PET surfaces. Full article

The interplay between curing conditions and performance in superhydrophobic cementitious materials remains a critical challenge, wherein hydrophobic agent incorporation enhances hydrophobicity but often compromises mechanical strength. This study aimed to investigate the effects of curing humidity and temperature on compressive strength and contact angle and clarify the influence of surface texture on hydrophobicity. SEM–EDS, FTIR, XRD, TG, and AFM were employed to analyze the specimens. Our results showed that curing temperature positively impacts material properties, whereas excessive curing humidity enhances compressive strength but negatively affects superhydrophobicity. Additionally, micro- and nanoscale coarse structures were found to be beneficial for improving superhydrophobicity. This study offers valuable insights into the most efficient mechanism through which to optimize the preparation process for desirable properties in superhydrophobic cementitious materials. Full article