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Titania nanotube arrays (TNAs) as a hot nanomaterial have a unique highly ordered array structure and good mechanical and chemical stability, as well as excellent anticorrosion, biocompatible, and photocatalytic performance. It has been fabricated by a facile electrochemical anodization in electrolytes containing small amounts of fluoric ions. In combination with our research work, we review the recent progress of the new research achievements of TNAs on the preparation processes, forming mechanism, and modification. In addition, we will review the potential and significant applications in the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, solar cells, water splitting, and other aspects. Finally, the existing problems and further prospects of this renascent and rapidly developing field are also briefly addressed and discussed.

Multifuntional fabrics with special wettability have attracted a lot of interest in both fundamental research and industry applications over the last two decades. In this review, recent progress of various kinds of approaches and strategies to construct super-antiwetting coating on cellulose-based substrates (fabrics and paper) has been discussed in detail. We focus on the significant applications related to artificial superhydrophobic fabrics with special wettability and controllable adhesion, e.g., oil-water separation, self-cleaning, asymmetric/anisotropic wetting for microfluidic manipulation, air/liquid directional gating, and micro-template for patterning. In addition to the anti-wetting properties and promising applications, particular attention is paid to coating durability and other incorporated functionalities, e.g., air permeability, UV-shielding, photocatalytic self-cleaning, self-healing and patterned antiwetting properties. Finally, the existing difficulties and future prospects of this traditional and developing field are briefly proposed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel, freestanding membranes composed of SiO2@Bi2O3 hierarchical core/shell fibers were prepared by a combination of two fabrication methods: electrospinning and hydrothermal reaction. The SiO2@Bi2O3 composite membranes were primarily supported by flexible SiO2 fibers after the calcination treatment of electrospun PVA/SiO2 hybrid fibrous membranes. SiO2@Bi2O3 composite fibers were fabricated via a process that entails hydrothermal growth of a bismuth precursor nanocoating (Bi-PN) on the surface of SiO2 fibers followed by the thermal treatment of the harvested SiO2@Bi-PN fibers. It was observed that Bi2O3 nanoparticles were well anchored on the surface of SiO2 fibers and the phase transition of Bi2O3 nanoparticles occurred during the thermal treatment of SiO2@Bi-PN composite fibers at different temperatures. The infrared emission rates of the resultant SiO2@Bi2O3 composite membranes were evaluated in comparison with pure SiO2 fibers in 2-22 mm wavebands. It is theorized that the coating of Bi2O3 nanoparticles contributes to the decrease of infrared emissivity, and the infrared emission properties of SiO2@Bi2O3 composite fibers are related to the α-Bi2O3 phase. The results favourably indicated prospects of SiO2@Bi2O3 composite fibrous membranes for applications in infrared stealth camouflage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterned surfaces with special wettability and adhesion (sliding, sticky or patterned superoleophobic surface) can be found on many living creatures. They offer a versatile platform for microfluidic management and other biological functions. Inspired by their precise arrangement of structure and chemical component, we described a facile one-step approach to construct large scale pinecone-like anatase TiO2 particles (ATP) film. The as-prepared ATP film exhibits excellent superamphiphilic property in air, changes to underwater superoleophobicity with good dynamical stability. In addition, erasable and rewritable patterned superamphiphobic ATP films or three-dimensional (3D) Janus surfaces were constructed for a versatile platform for microfluidic management and biomedical applications. In a proof-of-concept study, robust super-antiwetting feet for artificial anti-oil strider at the oil/water interface, novel superamphiphobic surface for repeatable oil/water separation, and multifunctional patterned superamphiphobic ATP template for cell, fluorecent probe and inorganic nanoparticles site-selective immobilization were demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titania nanotube arrays (TNAs) as a hot nanomaterial have a unique highly ordered array structure and good mechanical and chemical stability, as well as excellent anticorrosion, biocompatible, and photocatalytic performance. It has been fabricated by a facile electrochemical anodization in electrolytes containing small amounts of fluoric ions. In combination with our research work, we review the recent progress of the new research achievements of TNAs on the preparation processes, forming mechanism, and modification. In addition, we will review the potential and significant applications in the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, solar cells, water splitting, and other aspects. Finally, the existing problems and further prospects of this renascent and rapidly developing field are also briefly addressed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]