Scientists at Aalto University in Finland have developed a highly water-repellent surface that they claim is the most effective to date. The surface, which has a liquid-like coating made of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) coating a silicon substrate, exhibits superhydrophobic properties, causing water to form droplets and roll off easily. However, the researchers were surprised to find that even when the coverage of the SAMs was low, the surface remained slippery. This slipperiness allowed water to flow freely between the SAM molecules and slide off the surface without beading, which is typically associated with superhydrophobicity. The researchers discovered that the most impressive water-repellent properties were achieved when the SAM coverage was high, resulting in sliding angles as low as 0.01°.
The ability to repel water is a crucial characteristic for various industries, including automotive, marine, and aerospace. Superhydrophobic surfaces are commonly used, which work by trapping a layer of air or liquid that causes water to form droplets and roll off. However, this new technology using liquid-like surfaces (LLS) has the potential to enhance water repellency even further. LLS consists of layers of highly mobile molecules that act like liquids but are tethered to substrates, preventing them from escaping. This creates a lubricated surface that allows water to slide off effortlessly.
The researchers at Aalto University created their LLS by tuning conditions such as temperature and water content during production. They found that, regardless of whether the SAM coverage was high or low, water had the ability to slide off the surface easily. The team believes that their SAM surfaces are the most water-repelling materials reported thus far. While superhydrophobic surfaces typically have sliding angles as low as 5°, the SAM surfaces developed by the researchers achieved an astonishing 0.01°. This means that water will run off any surface that is not perfectly level.
Although the SAM coating is currently quite thin and easily dispersed, the researchers are working to improve its durability for various industrial applications. Potential uses for this technology include heat transfer in pipes, de-icing, anti-fogging, microfluidics, and creating self-cleaning surfaces. The unique mechanism of the SAM surfaces allows for increased droplet mobility, offering benefits wherever efficient water repellency is needed. The researchers are confident that further advancements in this technology will enable its widespread use across multiple industries.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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