Protocol for preparation of highly durable superhydrophobic bulks with hierarchical porous structures

Yunyun Meng; Binrui Wu; Chaoyi Peng; Suli Xing; Changping Yin; Nan Wu; Manish K Tiwari; Xian Yi

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102853

Protocol for preparation of highly durable superhydrophobic bulks with hierarchical porous structures

STAR Protoc. 2024 Mar 15;5(1):102853. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102853. Epub 2024 Jan 30.

Authors

Yunyun Meng¹, Binrui Wu², Chaoyi Peng³, Suli Xing¹, Changping Yin¹, Nan Wu⁴, Manish K Tiwari⁵, Xian Yi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Aerospace Science and Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, P.R. China.
² State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Icing and Anti/De-Icing, China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center, Mianyang Sichuan 621000, P.R. China. Electronic address: binruiwu@foxmail.com.
³ Zhuzhou Times New Materials Technology CO., LTD, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412007, P.R. China.
⁴ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Aerospace Science and Engineering, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, P.R. China. Electronic address: lierenwn@nudt.edu.cn.
⁵ Nanoengineered Systems Laboratory, UCL Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK; Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences (WEISS), University College London, London W1W 7TS, UK.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Icing and Anti/De-Icing, China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center, Mianyang Sichuan 621000, P.R. China.

Abstract

Superhydrophobic surfaces face challenges in comprehensive durability when used in extreme outdoor environments. Here, we present a protocol for preparing nanocomposite bulks with hierarchical structures using the template technique. We describe steps for using hybrid nanoparticles of polytetrafluoroethylene and multi-walled carbon nanotube to fill inside and dip on the polyurethane (PU) foam. We then detail procedures for its removal by sintering treatment. The extra accretion layer on the PU foam surface was highlighted to construct hierarchical porous structures. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wu et al.¹.

Keywords: Chemistry; Material sciences.

MeSH terms

Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Porosity*