Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
08:02
Rendering SiO2/Si Surfaces Omniphobic by Carving Gas-Entrapping Microtextures Comprising Reentrant and Doubly Reentrant Cavities or Pillars
Published on: February 11, 2020
Transparent surface with reversibly switchable wettability between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity
1Department of Chemical Physics, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China, 230026.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|August 7, 2013
Summary
Researchers developed a switchable transparent surface. This surface can change between superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic states using ion exchange, enabling applications like smart glass displays.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Controlling surface wettability is crucial for advanced material applications.
- Developing switchable surfaces with tunable properties remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a transparent surface with switchable superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity.
- To investigate the mechanism of switching via counterion exchange.
- To explore potential applications in smart glass displays.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a polyelectrolyte-tethered transparent surface.
- Utilizing counterion exchange (chloride vs. perfluorooctanoate ions) to switch surface properties.
- Characterization of surface wettability and transmittance.
- Demonstration of reversible switching over multiple cycles.
Main Results:
- Successfully created a transparent surface exhibiting reversible superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic states.
- Achieved stable superhydrophobicity with fluorine incorporation into the polyelectrolyte.
- Demonstrated that counterion exchange does not affect optical transmittance.
- Confirmed robust reversibility of wetting properties over numerous cycles.
Conclusions:
- The developed polyelectrolyte-tethered surface offers a novel platform for switchable wettability.
- Fluorine incorporation is key for stable superhydrophobicity.
- The transparent, switchable surface has potential for smart glass displays by exploiting differential antifogging properties.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Surface Active Agents
Surfactants, named for their behavior at interfaces, positively adsorb at the interfaces of two phases, reducing interfacial tension. Their versatility as emulsifiers, detergents, and foaming agents stems from this ability. Surfactants, often termed amphiphiles, share the property of amphipathy, with molecules having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions. The hydrophilic part is called the head, and the hydrophobic part, including an elongated alkyl substituent, forms the tail.Surfactants...
02:57Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
Surface Tension
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
01:24Surface Tension
Surface tension is defined as the force per unit length (γ) acting along the surface of a liquid. It arises due to strong intermolecular forces of attraction. A molecule located inside the bulk of the liquid is surrounded by other molecules and experiences equal forces in all directions. However, a molecule at the surface experiences unbalanced forces because there are more neighboring molecules below than above. This creates a net inward force that pulls surface molecules toward the interior,...
03:00Solubility
Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions)...
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions)...