Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Fabrication of High Contact-Density, Flat-Interface Nerve Electrodes for Recording and Stimulation Applications
Published on: October 4, 2016
Interface-engineered rice starch/shellac composites with hierarchical roughness for sustainable oil-water management
Ying Chen1, Qi Li2, Yunyue Ye2
1School of Food Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, China; Baoting Research Institute of Hainan University, Baoting, 572300, China.
Abstract:
Herein, an eco-friendly superhydrophobic rice starch (RS)/shellac composite coating was fabricated by spray deposition onto hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) films using a food-safe, ethanol-based formulation. Ball-milled RS was incorporated to construct hierarchical surface roughness, while shellac served as a natural, low surface energy binder and interfacial compatibilizer. Comprehensive characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), three-dimensional (3D) surface profilometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed uniform coating formation, enhanced interfacial hydrogen bonding, and a finely tuned micro-nano architecture. The optimized coating (HS-30%-2 h) exhibited remarkable superhydrophobicity, achieving a water contact angle (CA) of 153.1° and a sliding angle (SA) of 2.7°, attributable to the synergistic balance between starch concentration and milling duration. Functionally, the coating demonstrated exceptional water repellency and self-cleaning behavior, with minimal residue adhesion (0% for yogurt and 1.3% for honey). Furthermore, it displayed superior selective oil-water separation performance, with an efficiency exceeding 98% and an oil-absorption capacity of approximately 200%, comparable to commercial absorbent paper. These findings elucidate the interfacial design principles governing starch/shellac assemblies and highlight the potential of this biopolymer-based coating for sustainable food packaging and environmental remediation applications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Sustainable Development
Applications of GIS: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
Contact-dependent Signaling
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Classifying Matter by Composition
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or...
States of Water
Water freezes when the intermolecular forces are greater than the kinetic energy. Unlike most other substances, water is less dense in its solid state than in its liquid state. This is because each water molecule can form...
Protein-protein Interfaces

