Issue 11, 2016

Ultraporous superhydrophobic gas-permeable nano-layers by scalable solvent-free one-step self-assembly

Abstract

Superhydrophobic materials with excellent humidity tolerance, high porosity and light transmittance are being investigated for numerous applications including moisture-sensitive catalysts and perovskite solar cells. Here, we report the one-step solvent-free synthesis of ultraporous superhydrophobic nano-layers by the on-the-fly functionalization of nanoparticle aerosols. Short exposure of surfaces to hot Mn3O4, ZnO and TiO2 aerosols results in ultraporous nanoparticle networks with repulsive dewetting state approaching ideal Cassie-Baxter superhydrophobicity. In addition to showcasing sliding angles of ca. 0° and very low contact angle hysteresis of 3° ± 2°, these optimal nano-layers have up to 98% porosity and pore size of several micrometres, a key feature to enable efficient penetration of gases to the substrate surface. The stability of this ultraporous superhydrophobic morphology is demonstrated by rapidly applying Moses effect-functionality to substrates that parts water up to 5 mm high. This scalable synthesis method offers a flexible and rapid approach for the production of numerous moisture-resistant devices including gas sensors, catalysts and perovskite solar cells.

Graphical abstract: Ultraporous superhydrophobic gas-permeable nano-layers by scalable solvent-free one-step self-assembly

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Dec 2015
Accepted
23 Feb 2016
First published
24 Feb 2016

Nanoscale, 2016,8, 6085-6093

Ultraporous superhydrophobic gas-permeable nano-layers by scalable solvent-free one-step self-assembly

G. Liu, W. S. Y. Wong, N. Nasiri and A. Tricoli, Nanoscale, 2016, 8, 6085 DOI: 10.1039/C5NR09000H

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