Quick and Easy Electroless Deposition and Alkanethiol Treatment To Form a Superhydrophobic Surface

Abstract

In this brief experiment, students create a superhydrophobic surface as an application of polar–nonpolar interactions and redox chemistry. Half of a zinc-galvanized steel strip is coated in copper nanoparticles through electroless deposition. A layer of nonpolar octadecanethiol is added to half of that copper surface. Students classify the three resulting surfaces as polar or nonpolar using water drops as a probe. This simple procedure illustrates introductory chemical concepts while incorporating nanochemistry and illustrating surfaces of increasing technological importance.

Plasma Treatment: a Novel Approach to Improve the Photoelectroactivity of Sb2S3 Thin Films to Water Splitting

“…From Figure , the non‐plasma film features as superhydrophobic as the water contact angle was 157±4°, whilst the 5 s (121±0.20°) and 10 s (47±0.14°) plasma treated films are classified as hydrophobic and hydrophilic, respectively . For the last plasma treatment time (15 s), we were not able to measure the water contact angle; however, the wettability had been improved compared to the 10 s plasma treatment time, as the contact angle seemed to be less than 47±0.14°.…”

A Multidisciplinary Experiment to Characterize Antifouling Biocompatible Interfaces via Quantification of Surface Protein Adsorption

“…There have been practical laboratory experiments designed to explore superhydrophobicity and its properties. 7,21 Over time, however, these air pockets could potentially collapse and lose the superhydrophobicity. That is why the development of slippery, liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPs), which are inspired by the mucus membrane in the gastrointestinal tract, is a simple and beneficial alternative.…”

“…One approach to creating antifouling biomaterial interfaces is the development of superhydrophobic surfaces based on lotus leaves, which essentially uses the concept of trapped air pockets on the material surface to prevent surface fouling. There have been practical laboratory experiments designed to explore superhydrophobicity and its properties. , Over time, however, these air pockets could potentially collapse and lose the super­hydrophobicity. That is why the development of slippery, liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPs), which are inspired by the mucus membrane in the gastrointestinal tract, is a simple and beneficial alternative .…”

Thermodynamics of Wettability: A Physical Chemistry Laboratory Experiment

“…30,32 Experiments utilizing commonly found patterned objects such as the surfaces of recordable compact disks (CD-R) have also been described. 31,32 Further laboratory exercises have utilized carbon soot, 33 methyltrichlorosilane, 34 TiO 2 nanoparticles, 35,36 and electroless deposited copper particles 37 to provide texturation. For instance, Kabza and co-workers designed a laboratory exercise that enabled students to calculate the critical surface energy of readily available materials such as glass and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) using Zisman plots.…”

“…A number of laboratory experiments and demonstrations exploring concepts of wettability have been developed. ,,,,− Experiments that allow students to investigate the wettability of naturally low energy surfaces, such as the lotus leaf, have been designed. , These demonstrate the effects of surface texturation and illustrate the role of epicuticular waxes in modifying the surface chemistry. Other experiments have used replica molding to allow students to create biomimetic, superhydrophobic surfaces using naturally textured surfaces as templates. , Experiments utilizing commonly found patterned objects such as the surfaces of recordable compact disks (CD-R) have also been described. , Further laboratory exercises have utilized carbon soot, methyltrichlorosilane, TiO 2 nanoparticles, , and electroless deposited copper particles to provide texturation. For instance, Kabza and co-workers designed a laboratory exercise that enabled students to calculate the critical surface energy of readily available materials such as glass and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) using Zisman plots .…”