Non-Fluorinated, Sustainable, and Durable Superhydrophobic Microarrayed Surface for Water-Harvesting

Abstract

Water scarcity is a worldwide issue that significantly affects the environment, population, and economy of the arid zones. In this study, we report a straightforward method for water-harvesting based on modifications of the surface wettability. Using magnesium chloride, lauric acid, and electrodeposition process, a superhydrophobic surface (155°) is obtained. Morphological characterization techniques allow determination of the characteristic flower-like microstructures combined with close packed nanoarrays that lead to the hierarchical structure. Furthermore, the coating presents vertically aligned microarrays in a non-linear cone morphology formed by dynamic templating of hydrogen bubbles. From a chemical point of view, magnesium laurate is responsible for the surface tension decrease. To determine the durability of the obtained surface ultra-violet (UV) light test and abrasive paper test, tests are carried out revealing high durability against these severe conditions. The water-harvesting ability of the superhydrophobic surface is studied at 45° and 90° tilted samples. The capacity of the water to be harvested efficiently is found to be at 90° tilt under fog conditions. The use of green reactants associated with this hierarchical structure broadens a new scope for sustainable freshwater collection and it becomes an excellent example of a green solution.

Convenient and large-scale fabrication of cost-effective superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surface with excellent reparability

“…The C 1s peaks of 284.1, 284.8, and 288.3 eV are assigned to the inorganic carbon, C–C/C–H, and O–CO, , respectively, confirming the existence of lauric acid on the aluminum alloy surface. In Figure S2­(b), the Al 2p peaks of three surfaces can be attributed to three peaks and assigned to Al metal, alumina, and Al–O from hydroxyl, but the peaks of alumina and Al–O on S-1.25 shift about 0.6 eV in the larger binding energy direction, confirming the change in the chemical environment of aluminum. − At the same time, the intensity of Al metal peaks on S-2.5 and S-5 are lower than that on S-1.25. Combined with the characteristic that XPS can record only elements with a thickness of a few nanometers, we can analyze that the excessive accumulation of lauric acid on the surface caused the changes in binding energy and intensity.…”

Sustainable Materials for Liquid Repellent Coatings

“…Lauric acid in Ayra et al [53] was reported for the preparation of SHS in a water harvesting process. Flower-like SH microstructure was obtained on Al substrate by electrodeposition conducted in an electrolytic bath with lauric acid and MgCl 2 in an ethanol solution, forming magnesium laureate.…”

A Facile Method for Processing Durable and Sustainable Superhydrophobic Chitosan-Based Coatings Derived from Waste Crab Shell

“…Based on the above reports and other recent literature works, it is clear that fluorinated compounds or inorganic nanoparticles have found widespread use in the synthesis of superhydrophobic coatings despite their negative impacts on the environment. Although there are studies on sustainable superhydrophobic coatings, − in many cases, the process had either involved expensive materials or employed complicated synthesis steps, leading to an expensive preparation system.…”