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Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
Superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane films with transparent/fluorescent performance
Shengyang Yang1, Lifang Wang, Cai-Feng Wang
1State Key Laboratory of Material-Oriented Chemical Engineering and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|November 4, 2010
Summary
Researchers developed a novel method to create superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films using nanosilica and octadecanamide (ODAA). These transparent films exhibit excellent water repellency and can be made fluorescent for optoelectronic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Superhydrophobic surfaces mimic natural phenomena, offering advanced functionalities.
- Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a versatile polymer with potential for surface modification.
- Controlling surface microstructure is key to achieving desired properties like water repellency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple and versatile method for fabricating superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films.
- To investigate the role of octadecanamide (ODAA)-directed assembly in creating specific microstructures.
- To explore the potential for adding fluorescent properties to these superhydrophobic films for optoelectronic applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of nanosilica/TPU/ODAA hybrid films via directed assembly.
- Characterization of film microstructure and surface properties.
- Introduction of Cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots for fluorescence.
Main Results:
- Achieved superhydrophobic TPU films with a water contact angle of 163.5° without additional low surface energy treatments.
- Developed transparent superhydrophobic films with tunable sheetlike microstructures.
- Created fluorescent superhydrophobic TPU films (water contact angle 172.3°) by incorporating CdTe quantum dots, demonstrating stability.
Conclusions:
- The ODAA-directed assembly provides an effective route for creating superhydrophobic and fluorescent TPU hybrid films.
- This method offers a valuable approach for tuning surface properties of organic-inorganic hybrid materials.
- The developed films show promise for applications in areas requiring both superhydrophobicity and optoelectronic functionalities.
