Visualization of self-limiting electrochemical gas generation to recover underwater superhydrophobicity

Self-Powered Plastron Preservation and One-Step Molding of Semiactive Superhydrophobic Surfaces

“…When the trench was intentionally flooded using a strong jet of water (t = 0 s), the spontaneous electrochemical reaction started right away as the seawater touched the nickel electrode and closed the reaction circuit, verifying the self-initiating nature of the self-regulated plastron restoration. Similarly to what was observed by Freeman et al, 33 the generated hydrogen bubbles merged with each other to grow into larger bubbles (t = 1 s) until they reached the top edge of the trench (t = 2 s). The electrochemical reaction then stopped as the gas insulated the electrode and opened the reaction circuit, verifying the selfterminating nature of the self-regulated plastron restoration.…”

“…To evaluate the proposed concept of plastron preservation before embarking to develop mass-manufacturable processes, a single-trench sample was fabricated as shown in Figure a,b by adapting the process introduced in refs and . The sample was made narrow (∼1 mm in width) and out of transparent Teflon FEP to allow for side-view examination of the gas restoration.…”