Bioinspired wettability-controlled surfaces with gradient micro- and nano-structures

9^th World Congress on Materials Science and Engineering

June 12-14, 2017 Rome, Italy

Yongmei Zheng

Beihang University, China

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

Biological wettability surfaces with various-style gradient micro- and nanostructures (MN) greatly provide with excellent functions via natural evolvement. In nature, a combination of multiple gradients in a periodic spindle-knot structure take on surface of spider silk after wet-rebuilding process in mist. This structure drives tiny water droplets directionally towards the spindle-knots for highly efficient water collection. Inspired by the water collecting ability of spider silk, a series of functional fibers with unique wettability has been designed by various as-inspired techniques. Various geometrically-engineered thin fibers with the bead-on-string structures achieve droplet driving, transport of droplet for water collection in efficiency, etc. Besides, inspired by gradient effects on butterfly wing and lotus leaves, the surfaces with ratchet MN, flexible lotus-like MN are fabricated successfully by improved methods, which demonstrate that the gradient MN effect rises up distinctly anti-icing, ice-phobic and de-ice abilities. These multifunctional materials can be designed and fabricated for promising applications such as water-collecting, anti-icing, anti-frosting, or anti-fogging properties for practical applications in aerospace, industry, etc.

Biography :

Email: zhengym@buaa.edu.cn