International. In a recently published review, Chinese researchers looked at the issue of prolonging the lifespan of biology-inspired super wet surfaces.
Due to their specialized functions and various potential applications, bio-inspired supercontainable surfaces have garnered a lot of attention. However, superhydrophobic surfaces are vulnerable to destruction under various difficult conditions when applied in industry and life sciences, limiting large-scale applications. In a new article, the topic of long service life is exhaustively discussed by analyzing the decomposition mechanism, which is influenced by the parameters of surface structures.
First of all, the mechanical durability of surfaces can be greatly improved to withstand mechanical damage, by introducing elastic materials and an exceptionally stable rough structure. Secondly, chemically stable superhydrophobic coatings are introduced to resist ultraviolet UV radiation, acid/base/salt solutions and high temperatures. Finally, a number of vital advances regarding surface self-healing properties are summarized, which can considerably prolong the life of surfaces through the release of low surface energy agents and the regeneration of topographic structures.
Last but not least, the ease of repair of superhydrophobic coatings is beneficial for resistance to chemical damage due to the rapid restoration of the original characteristics.
The review reveals and analyzes the conclusions and perspectives related to the construction of super-stable and durable bio-inspired super-retractable surfaces, aimed at extending the application of these surfaces to our daily lives and industrial manufacturing.
Source: Journal of Materials Chemistry.
