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Self-Healing, Robust, Liquid-Repellent Coatings Exploiting the Donor-Acceptor Self-Assembly
Jianhui Zhang1,2, Vikramjeet Singh1,2, Wei Huang1,2
1Nanoengineered Systems Laboratory, UCL Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, U.K.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|February 3, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed advanced liquid-repellent coatings using polyurethane and metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles. These coatings offer rapid self-healing, strong adhesion, and exceptional durability for industrial use.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing durable, liquid-repellent coatings with self-healing and strong adhesion is crucial for industrial applications but remains challenging.
- Existing coatings often lack a combination of mechanical robustness, self-repair capabilities, and effective substrate adhesion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create advanced liquid-repellent coatings by synergistically combining polyurethane's self-assembly properties with hydrophobic metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles.
- To enhance coating performance, including liquid repellence, self-healing, and substrate adhesion, for demanding industrial environments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized synergistic chemistry between donor-acceptor self-assembly units in polyurethane and hydrophobic MOF nanoparticles.
- Characterized the nanohierarchical morphology and interaction mechanisms using density functional theory and infrared spectroscopy.
- Investigated superhydrophobicity through MOF nanoparticle incorporation and silanization; explored fluorine-free surfaces via liquid infusion into MOF porosity.
Main Results:
- Achieved a nanohierarchical morphology with excellent liquid repellence and superhydrophobicity.
- Demonstrated high strength, excellent self-healing, and strong adhesion on diverse substrates due to donor-acceptor self-assembly.
- Exhibited self-cleaning, resistance to tape peel and liquid jet impacts, recoverable repellence after damage, and low ice adhesion over 50 cycles.
- Developed stable, fluorine-free slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces with low ice adhesion.
Conclusions:
- The synergistic combination of self-healing polyurethane and MOF nanoparticles offers a promising strategy for high-performance liquid-repellent coatings.
- These advanced coatings exhibit remarkable durability, self-repair capabilities, and tunable surface properties, including low ice adhesion.
- The developed materials hold significant potential for various industrial applications requiring robust and functional surfaces.
