Smart surfaces with reversibly switchable wettability: Concepts, synthesis and applications.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Science
• Interfacial Science

Background:

• Smart switchable surfaces are a rapidly advancing research area.
• Controlling surface wettability is crucial for various technological applications.
• Existing reviews lack a comprehensive overview of stimuli-responsive wettability switching.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the state-of-the-art in reversibly switchable wettability of smart surfaces.
• To provide fundamental insights into surface wetting principles and stimuli-responsive mechanisms.
• To guide future smart surface engineering and applications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of recent literature on switchable wettability.
• Analysis of fundamental theories of surface wetting.
• Categorization of stimuli (pH, light, ions, temperature, electric field, gas, mechanical force, multi-stimuli) and their effects.
• Discussion of diverse applications.

Main Results:

• External stimuli alter surface chemistry and morphology to switch wettability.
• Various stimuli effectively control wettability for targeted applications.
• Key applications include oil-water separation, droplet manipulation, patterning, and liquid transport.
• Superwetting surfaces offer unique opportunities for wettability switching.

Conclusions:

• Significant progress has been made in manufacturing smart switchable surfaces.
• Challenges remain in achieving robust and efficient wettability switching.
• Future opportunities lie in developing novel stimuli-responsive materials and integrated systems.