Superhydrophobic TiO 2 –Polymer Nanocomposite Surface with UV-Induced Reversible Wettability and Self-Cleaning Properties
Abstract
Multifunctional superhydrophobic nanocomposite surfaces based on photocatalytic materials, such as fluorosilane modified TiO2, have generated significant research interest. However, there are two challenges to forming such multifunctional surfaces with stable superhydrophobic properties: the photocatalytic oxidation of the hydrophobic functional groups, which leads to the permanent loss of superhydrophobicity, as well as the photoinduced reversible hydrolysis of the catalytic particle surface. Herein, we report a simple and inexpensive template lamination method to fabricate multifunctional TiO2-high-density polyethylene (HDPE) nanocomposite surfaces exhibiting superhydrophobicity, UV-induced reversible wettability, and self-cleaning properties. The laminated surface possesses a hierarchical roughness spanning the micro- to nanoscale range. This was achieved by using a wire mesh template to emboss the HDPE surface creating an array of polymeric posts while partially embedding untreated TiO2 nanoparticles selectively into the top surface of these features. The surface exhibits excellent superhydrophobic properties immediately after lamination without any chemical surface modification to the TiO2 nanoparticles. Exposure to UV light causes the surface to become hydrophilic. This change in wettability can be reversed by heating the surface to restore superhydrophobicity. The effect of TiO2 nanoparticle surface coverage and chemical composition on the mechanism and magnitude of wettability changes was studied by EDX and XPS. In addition, the ability of the surface to shed impacting water droplets as well as the ability of such droplets to clean away particulate contaminants was demonstrated.
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Petroleum-derived polymers used as supports for TiO2 (e.g., HDPE, PANI, RF) have drawbacks including nonrenewability, higher costs, and additional contribution to pollution.
“Petroleum-derived polymers, when used as a support for TiO 2 (e.g.high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 23 polyaniline (PANI), 24 resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) 25 ), have drawbacks such as nonrenewability, higher costs, and additional contribution to pollution.26”
From Sustainable hybrid photocatalysts: titania immobilized on carbon materials derived from renewable and biodegradable resources (2016) · cites this paper as [23]
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- Authors
- Xu, Q. F., Liu, Y., Lin, F.-J., Mondal, B., & Lyons, A. M.
- Affiliations
- College of Staten Island (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lyons, Alan M.
- Venue
- ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2013-09-06
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 18
- Pages
- 8915-8924
- ISSN
- 1944-8244 (ISSN-L)
- 1944-8252
- OpenAlex
- W2335252267
- Cited by
- 225
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 6.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Surfaces, Coatings and Films › Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies
- Keywords
- superhydrophobic surfaces, titanium dioxide nanoparticles, high-density polyethylene, polymer nanocomposites, self-cleaning surfaces, hierarchical surface roughness, fluorosilanes, photocatalytic oxidation, droplet impact, pollutant removal
- MeSH terms
- Catalysis, Oxidation-Reduction, Polyethylenes, Surface Properties, Titanium, Ultraviolet Rays, Wettability, Nanocomposites, Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
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