Temperature-Responsive, Femtosecond Laser-Ablated Ceramic Surfaces with Switchable Wettability for On-Demand Droplet Transfer

Abstract

Reversible wettability transition has drawn substantial interest because of its importance for widespread applications, but facile realization of such transition on ceramic surfaces, which is promising for achieving on-demand droplet manipulation under harsh conditions, remains rare. Herein, superhydrophobic zirconia ceramic surfaces that can reversibly and repeatedly transit between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity after alternate heating treatments have been fabricated using a femtosecond laser. The underlying mechanisms of the complex wettability transitions on the laser-ablated zirconia surfaces are elucidated. Hydrophilic polished zirconia surfaces immediately become superhydrophilic after laser ablation, which is mainly attributed to the amplification effect of the laser-induced micro/nanostructures and has no obvious relationship with oxygen vacancies. The obtained superhydrophilic surfaces are transformed into superhydrophobic surfaces because of rapid adsorption of airborne organic compounds driven mainly by physical interaction under heating conditions. With the alternate removal and re-adsorption of organic compounds, reversible and repeatable wettability transition between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity happens on the zirconia surfaces. The laser-induced micro/nanostructures also contribute to the wettability transitions. Furthermore, utilizing the superhydrophobic zirconia surfaces with switchable wettability, on-demand transfer of strong acid droplet in air and oil droplet under strong acid solution has been achieved. This work will inspire the environmentally friendly fabrication of switchable superhydrophobic ceramic surfaces and their multifunctional applications under harsh conditions.

A Review on Ultrafast Laser Enabled Excellent Superhydrophobic Anti-Icing Performances

“…By regulating local thermal accumulation effects, different micro-nanostructures were induced, realizing the wettability changes from superhydrophobicity (~3.6 • ) to superhydrophobicity (~151.6 • ). Zheng et al adopted a femtosecond laser to fabricate a temperature-response ceramic surface with switchable wettability [106]. Superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic interfaces were reversibly and repeatedly transited after alternate heating treatments.…”

CO2-philicity to CO2-phobicity Transition on Smooth and Stochastic Rough Cu-like Substrate Surfaces

“…The wettability of natural and artificial surfaces has received increasing attention in recent years. The wetting characteristics play an important role in a wide range of applications, such as high-energy-density batteries, , microscale liquid transport, , sweat sensors, and liquefaction . The wettability of CO 2 on artificial surfaces directly affects the efficiency of CO 2 condensation, evaporation, and heat transfer, which in turn limits the performance of CO 2 capture technologies , and transport of CO 2 -based working fluid in heat exchangers, heat pipes, vacuum chambers, and new thermodynamic cycles. , However, manipulating the CO 2 wettability and clearly elucidating its underlying mechanism remain challenging.…”