Bioinspired micro-/nanostructure fibers with a water collecting property

Nanoscale. 2014 Jul 21;6(14):7703-14. doi: 10.1039/c4nr02064b.

Abstract

We review the recent research on structure-induced water collecting properties of spider silk and bioinspired fibers. Since the capture silks of cribellate spiders have a unique wet-rebuilt structure with spindle-knots and joints for directional water collection, we were inspired to fabricate a series of artificial gradient micro-/nanostructure fibers. These fibers display excellent functions, such as driving tiny water drops in certain directions, water capturing, multi-gradient cooperation effect, and wet-response to environmental humidity. This review is helpful to the design of novel smart functional materials that can be extended to develop devices or systems for water collection, sensors, fluid-control, filters and others.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humidity
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Silk / chemistry
  • Spiders / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Silk
  • Water