Controlling Superwettability by Microstructure and Surface Energy Manipulation on Three-Dimensional Substrates for...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Superwettable materials are crucial for applications requiring specific wetting behaviors.
• Controlling surface microstructure and energy is key to achieving tunable superwettability.
• Existing methods for functionalizing materials like foams often face limitations in mechanical stability and particle retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, robust approach for engineering superwettable three-dimensional (3D) foams.
• To demonstrate precise control over surface microstructure and energy for tailored wetting properties.
• To create high-performance materials for efficient oil-water separation.

Main Methods:

• Layer-by-layer covalent grafting of multidimensional nanoparticles (silica, carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide) onto 3D foam structures.
• Tailoring surface energy through grafting chemicals with diverse functional groups (e.g., heptanol, polydopamine).
• Characterization of surface microstructure, wettability (contact angles), mechanical properties, and separation performance.

Main Results:

• Achieved superhydrophobic/superoleophilic foams with high oil-water separation capacity (113x weight gain) and flux (32.6 L m⁻² s⁻¹).
• Developed superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic foams with excellent water-oil separation flux (19.3 L m⁻² s⁻¹).
• Grafting approach enhanced mechanical performance, reduced particle loading, and prevented particle disassociation, improving durability.

Conclusions:

• The proposed grafting method offers a versatile strategy for engineering high-performance superwettable materials.
• The developed foams demonstrate significant potential for efficient and durable oil-water separation applications.
• This study provides a profound approach for designing advanced functional materials with tunable surface properties.