Design and applications of surfaces that control the accretion of matter

Abstract

Surfaces that provide control over liquid, solid, or vapor accretion provide an evolutionary advantage to numerous plants, insects, and animals. Synthetic surfaces inspired by these natural surfaces can have a substantial impact on diverse commercial applications. Engineered liquid and solid repellent surfaces are often designed to impart control over a single state of matter, phase, or fouling length scale. However, surfaces used in diverse real-world applications need to effectively control the accrual of matter across multiple phases and fouling length scales. We discuss the surface design strategies aimed at controlling the accretion of different states of matter, particularly those that work across multiple length scales and different foulants. We also highlight notable applications, as well as challenges associated with these designer surfaces’ scale-up and commercialization.

Anti-gas hydrate surfaces: perspectives, progress and prospects

“…Many surfaces have been designed for this purpose, including lubricant infused slippery surfaces, 225,226 stress localization surfaces, 227 macro-crack initiator surfaces, 210,218 liquid layer generator surfaces 171 and low interfacial toughness (LIT) surfaces. 203,228 Notably, the recently reported LIT surface is a unique and attractive anti-icing surface. Unlike other icephobic systems that require dramatically strong forces for removing ice from large surfaces, the LIT surfaces enable mild forces for ice removal independent of interfacial area because its ice delamination relies on the interfacial toughness and not its actual shear strength.…”

“…There are numerous studies on surface science, such as multi-liquid repellency surfaces, anti-fouling surfaces, and anti-icing surfaces, which provide abundant knowledge for fabricating surfaces to control the accretion of different matter. 203–214 Among these research topics, ice has the most similar properties to hydrate. Hence, the advances in anti-icing surfaces could provide valuable suggestions for future anti-hydrate surface design.…”

“…Unlike other icephobic systems that require dramatically strong forces for removing ice from large surfaces, the LIT surfaces enable mild forces for ice removal independent of interfacial area because its ice delamination relies on the interfacial toughness and not its actual shear strength. 203,228 The LIT surfaces hence make the scaling-up of anti-icing surfaces possible. The above strategies for low adhesion strength of ice are highly desired in anti-hydrate surface design.…”

Evolution of and Disparity among Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Gecko, Petal, and Lotus Effect

“…Superhydrophobic (SHPO) surfaces are generally accepted as their water contact angle (CA) is >150°, [ 1 ] which have been vibrantly applied in anti‐fouling, oil/water separation, heat transfer, and recently into renewable energy by, for example, surviving solar cells and windmills in the harsh environment, making a contribution to the realization of carbon neutrality. [ 2–6 ] Learning from nature is an effective way to design and fabricate SHPO surfaces. Since the revelation of multiscale microstructure for lotus effect in 2002, a variety of biomimetic SHPO surfaces inspired by lotus leaves, gecko feet, rose petals, butterfly wings, springtail cuticles, etc.…”

“…Superhydrophobic (SHPO) surfaces are generally accepted as their water contact angle (CA) is >150°, [1] which have been vibrantly applied in anti-fouling, oil/water separation, heat transfer, and recently into renewable energy by, for example, surviving solar cells and windmills in the harsh environment, making a contribution to the realization of carbon neutrality. [2][3][4][5][6] ZnO nanorods, CeO 2 nanotubes, and Si nanowires, [24][25][26] and as it is well known, inorganic nanomaterials, including nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanowires, have been widely applied in surfaces with petal and lotus effects. [27][28][29][30][31] Therefore, an all-in-one work may be realized by employing inorganic nanomaterials with large aspect ratios.…”