1. Bioinspired slippery asymmetric bumps of candle soot coating for condensation and directional transport of water.
- Author
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Jamil, Muhammad Imran, Cai, Yuhang, Ahmed, Waqar, Zhan, Xiaoli, Chen, Fengqiu, Cheng, Dangguo, and Zhang, Qinghua
- Subjects
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WATER harvesting , *SOOT , *CONDENSATION , *CANDLES , *WATER shortages , *ARID regions , *MAGNETIC particles - Abstract
Natural species use their surface structures for water harvesting. It is the dire need of the hour to learn from nature, mimic its functions, and solve the water scarcity problem through dew condensation. However, the present microscale and nanoscale approaches still suffer from complicated fabrication methods and durability failure in harsh conditions. Here, we introduce a bioinspired slippery surface of candle soot particles which uses its bumps to enhance the growth of condensed water droplets. The Namib desert beetles-inspired convex topography, cacti-inspired asymmetric slope, and Nepenthes pitcher plant-inspired slippery surface of soot particles synergistically combines the large droplet nucleation density, fast droplet coalescence, and easy removal of droplet from the surface. The hydrophilic SLIPS of soot particles harvests water at a rate of 326.4 ± 9 mg/cm2 h-1 which is 70 % high as compared to hydrophobic SLIPS of soot particles. The fluorinated SLIPS reveals 32 % high water collection rate as compared to the methyl-terminated SLIPS of candle soot particles and the results are corroborated by calculating the intermolecular hydrogen bonding energies through DFT. The programmed motion of water droplet on a slippery surface of soot particles is also observed by applying laser light, heat, and magnetic field even against gravity. The slippery surface shows long-term stability due to nano-porosity, permeation of lubricant into soot particles and lubricant's crosslinking ability with the binder. The developed surface is biocompatible, self-cleaning, and suitable for water harvesting particularly in cold and arid regions. [Display omitted] • Multi-bioinspired slippery asymmetric bumps of candle soot particles were fabricated. • Namib desert beetles-inspired topography helped to enhance the water condensation. • Cactus spines-inspired asymmetric slope of aggregated soot particles facilitate the directional motion of water. • Nepenthes pitcher plants-inspired slippery surface helped for easy removal of water droplet.. • Fluorinated SLIPS showed high water collection rate due to high electronegativity difference of C-F bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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