Abstract
To develop an efficient water-collecting surface that integrates both fast water-capturing and easy drainage properties is of high current interest for addressing global water issues. In this work, a superhydrophobic surface was fabricated on cotton fabric via manipulation of both the surface roughness and surface energy. This was followed by a subsequent spray coating of TiO2nanosol that created light-induced superhydrophilic bumps with a unique raised structure as a result of the interfacial tension of the TiO2nanosol sprayed on the superhydrophobic fiber surface. These raised TiO2bumps induce both a wettability gradient and a shape gradient, synergistically accelerating water coalescence and water collection. The in-depth study revealed that the quantity and the distribution of the TiO2had a significant impact on the final water collection efficiency. This inexpensive and facilely fabricated fabric biomimicks the desert beetle's back and spider silk, which are capable of fog harvesting without additional energy consumption.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2950-2960 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Feb 2016 |
Keywords
- biomimetic water collection
- Laplace pressure gradient
- light-induced superhydrophilic
- raised structure
- wettability gradient
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
