Robust Superamphiphobic Nanoscale Copper Sheet Surfaces Produced by a Simple and Environmentally Friendly Technique

Abstract

In this study, robust nanoscale superamphiphobic (SAP) copper (Cu) sheet surfaces are obtained with an exceptionally simple and environmentally friendly technique. Copper oxide nanostructures are imparted onto the Cu sheet surface by a facile treatment of the surfaces with hot de-ionized water (%80°C) for different time periods. A morphological transformation starting from cube-like nanostructures associated with Cu 2 O to leaf-like nanostructures of CuO with the progress in treatment time is observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and laser scanning microscopy (LSM) analysis confirm the formation of copper oxide nanostructures. Consequently, the wetting properties of the treated Cu sheet surfaces toward water and organic liquids is varied after the surface energy reduction of the nanostructures with long chain fluorocarbon molecules of 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (PFDCS). The leaf-like nanostructured CuO surfaces demonstrate SAP properties with a water contact angle (CA) as high as 160°and organic liquid CAs of around 150°. The robustness of the obtained SAP Cu sheet surface is confirmed after being exposed to a stream of both water and organic liquids, annealed under various temperatures in ambient environment, and ultra-sonicated in acetone for various time periods.

Special wettable nanostructured copper mesh achieved by a facile hot water treatment process

“…However, after 6 hrs of hot water treatment were detected during the process. HWT treatment of Cu sheet has been studied by Khedir et al [34].…”

“…As a recently developed alternative bottom-up fabrication method, hot water treatment (HWT) offers a more efficient, simpler, lower cost, and eco-friendly technique of forming metal oxide nanostructures including copper oxides nanoleaves and nanocubes [34][35][36][37], aluminum oxide nanograss [38][39][40], and zinc oxide nanorods [41]. HWT does not need pre-treatments such as acid etching or oxidation agents, and it's use of aqueous solutions minimizes any potential hazardous effects of the process [24,34,38,[41][42][43][44][45].…”

“…HWT does not need pre-treatments such as acid etching or oxidation agents, and it's use of aqueous solutions minimizes any potential hazardous effects of the process [24,34,38,[41][42][43][44][45].…”

“…This technique has recently received the attention of researchers for generating superhydrophobic [39,46], superamphiphobic [34,38,39,47], self-cleaning [40], and anti-icing surfaces [46]. All the recent work summarized above on the use of HWT for metal oxide nanostructure growth was demonstrated on planar metal plates.…”

The effect of polar end of long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers in promoting the superamphiphobic property over multi-scale rough Al alloy surfaces

“…In the past, various techniques and materials have been used to engineer re-entrant rough structures in the shape of overhang structures [5,17], hierarchical micro-and nano-scale structures [11,16,[18][19][20], nanoparticles [4,21,22], and interconnected fibers with knots [5,23]. It has been experimentally proven that the surface chemistry modification of rough surfaces with re-entrant structures with a long-chain fluorocarbon is crucial in facilitating SAP property, [11,13,16,24].…”