Transparent Oil–Water Separating Spiky SiO₂ Nanoparticle Supramolecular Polymer Superhydrophobic Coatings

Abstract

superhydrophobic coatings enabled by the nanocomposite materials of graphene, [5,6] polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and TiO 2 , [7] fluoropolysiloxane and TiO 2 , [8] Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs), [9] nanocellulose, [10] melanin NPs, [11] cellulose-based derivatives, [12] stoichiometric silanization, [13] fluorinated nanodiamonds, [14] carbon microflowers with MoO 3 NPs, [15] polytetrafluoroethylene, [6] composite microspheres of polystyrene and SiO 2 , [16] SiO 2 and epoxy resin, [17] and fluorinated SiO 2 NPs, [18] SiO 2 NPs embedded with electro-spun fibrous mats, [19] and so on. Mesoporous SiO 2 NPs is one of the most widely studied nanostructures. Researchers have mainly focused on the design of SiO 2 NP-based superhydrophobic nanocomposite materials with various properties including fluorine-free, self-cleaning, environmentfriendly, and antifogging characteristics. [20] For example, superhydrophobic surfaces have been successfully prepared by onestep spray or spin-coating using SiO 2 NPs combined with various supramolecules, including silicone-acrylic copolymer, [3] poly(methyl hydrogen)siloxane, [21] PDMS, [22] organic silicon glass resin prepolymer, [23] 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane, [24] polystyrene, [16,25] polymethylmethacrylate, and hexadecyl trimethoxy silane. [26] The superhydrophobic efficiency of composite materials depends on the improved performance of A potential application of spiky SiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) with tubular and rough surfaces is investigated as superhydrophobic coatings, for their unique transparent, fluorinate-free, and environmentally friendly properties. This study demonstrates a facile method for the successful fabrication of superhydrophobic coatings and SiO 2 @polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using spiky SiO 2 NPs, N-coordinated boroxines, and PDMS. Combined with spray coating technology, this method of superhydrophobic coating can be simply applied to both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, including wood, fabric, glass, metal, sponge, and paper. The nanocomposite coating on the glass surface showed both excellent superhydrophobicity and high transparency, with a contact angle of 165.4 ± 1.0° and 96.93% transmittance at 550 nm, respectively. SiO 2 @PDMS-modified glass substrate is found to be resilient to UV irradiation, water, and high temperature treatments at ambient conditions. Experimental data demonstrated that the simple but effective combination of N-boroxine-PDMS and spiky SiO 2 NPs produces a layered coating material that exhibits many good integrated surface properties, including stability, transparency, superhydrophobicity, and oil-water separation.

Robust superhydrophobic silicone/epoxy functional coating with excellent chemical stability and self-cleaning ability

“…This makes it possible for the hydrophobic application of the coating in the optical field. 51,52 Obviously, although the low surface energy polymer can show a better hydrophobic effect, the structure without micro and nano rough is still unable to achieve the superhydrophobic performance requirements. To further improve hydrophobicity, n-SiO 2 is blended with polymers to improve the surface micro-nano structure.…”

Silica Nanoparticle/TPU Coating Imparts Aramid with Puncture Resistance and Anti-corrosion for Personal Protection

“…Created by taking inspiration from natural entities such as lotus leaves and hopping insects, superhydrophobic surfaces have garnered significant attention and been extensively employed in various domains, including anticorrosion applications, – anti-icing solutions, – self-cleaning mechanisms, and oil–water separation techniques – due to their excellent noninfiltration properties. These surfaces typically comprise a combination of micro- and nanoscale rough structures along with hydrophobic materials possessing low surface energy .…”

Flexible Puncture-Resistant Composites for Antistabbing Applications: Silica and Silicon Carbide Nanoparticle-/TPU-Coated Aramid Fabrics

“…While the polymer coating approach has demonstrated promising results in enhancing the puncture resistance of fabrics, there is still a challenge in developing multifunctional protective composites that can enhance the overall defensive performance of personal protective equipment beyond just puncture resistance. Numerous studies have drawn inspiration from nature and explored the applications of superhydrophobic surfaces in various fields, – including corrosion prevention, , self-cleaning, and antifouling. , These surfaces typically feature micro and nano rough structures with low surface energy . Nanoparticles such as silica, – titanium dioxide, , and silicon carbide are commonly utilized to enhance the mechanical strength of polymers and create the desired rough structure in superhydrophobic coatings.…”