Smart Bionic Surfaces with Switchable Wettability and Applications

Abstract

In order to satisfy the needs of different applications and more complex intelligent devices, smart control of surface wettability will be necessary and desirable, which gradually become a hot spot and focus in the field of interface wetting. Herein, we review interfacial wetting states related to switchable wettability on superwettable materials, including several classical wetting models and liquid adhesive behaviors based on the surface of natural creatures with special wettability. This review mainly focuses on the recent developments of the smart surfaces with switchable wettability and the corresponding regulatory mechanisms under external stimuli, which is mainly governed by the transformation of surface chemical composition and geometrical structures. Among that, various external stimuli such as physical stimulation (temperature, light, electric, magnetic, mechanical stress), chemical stimulation (pH, ion, solvent) and dual or multi-triggered stimulation have been sought out to realize the regulation of surface wettability. Moreover, we also summarize the applications of smart surfaces in different fields, such as oil/water separation, programmable transportation, anti-biofouling, detection and delivery, smart soft robotic etc. Furthermore, current limitations and future perspective in the development of smart wetting surfaces are also given. This review aims to offer deep insights into the recent developments and responsive mechanisms in smart biomimetic surfaces with switchable wettability under external various stimuli, so as to provide a guidance for the design of smart surfaces and expand the scope of both fundamental research and practical applications.

Imidazolium based ionic liquid-phase green catalytic reactions

“…A typical example involves the conversion of organic carbonates 270 and formylation of alkenes 271 among many other catalytic systems. 236,272,273 Magnetic separation techniques can be also effectively employed for the development of magnetically recoverable catalysts in ILs. 274 These can be accomplished by use of paramagnetic IL-coated nanoparticles 275 or magnetic nanoparticles in ILs.…”

“…A typical example involves the conversion of organic carbonates 270 and formylation of alkenes 271 among many other catalytic systems. 236,272,273…”

Recent Developments in Artificial Super-Wettable Surfaces Based on Bioinspired Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications

“…The development of biomedical materials currently needs extremely high standards in terms of functionality, bioactivity, and biocompatibility. Scientists have made sincere efforts [2] to partially or completely meet these criteria using a variety of techniques. The most promising among them have been biomimetic or bioinspired [3] since the compounds, architectures, and processes of living organisms display nature-based, time-tested approaches for obtaining desirable material properties.…”

Multiple strategies to control the hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance of P(DMA-co-DMAEMA-co-QDMAEMA) coatings

“…As a matter of fact, surface wettability has a profound effect on other properties of solid surfaces, for example self-cleaning, antifouling, oil-water separation, anti-fog capabilities, etc. Inspired by natural surfaces such as rose petals, lotus leaves, nepenthes slippery, mosquito compound eyes, rice leaves, water striders, etc., 1 researchers have found that natural surfaces mainly rely on the synergistic effect of the chemical composition and surface morphology to achieve superwetting behavior. 2,3 In fact, surfaces with fixed wettability cannot meet complex practical applications.…”

“…Properties of random copolymers with different sulfonation ratios and their modified surfaces In the sulfonation reaction, the feed molar ratio of 1,3-PS to DMAEMA. b The actual sulfonation ratios of PDDQ determined by1 H NMR with thecalculation equation of m bulk ¼ S m =6 ðS m =6Þ þ ðS e =2ÞÂ 100%. c The surface sulfonation ratios determined by XPS with the calculation equation of…”