Self-cleaning of superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces at low humidity enhanced by vertical electric field.

ABSTRACT: Self-cleaning is the key factor that makes superhydrophobic nanostructured materials have wide applications. The self-cleaning effect, however, strongly depends on formations and movement of water droplets on superhydrophobic nanostructured surfaces, which is greatly restricted at low humidity (< 7.6 g·kg^-1). Therefore, we propose a self-cleaning method at low humidity in which the pollution is electro-aggregated and driven in the electric field to achieve the aggregation and cleaning large areas. The cleaning efficiency of this method is much higher than that of water droplet roll-off, and will not produce "pollution bands". A simplified numerical model describing pollution movements is presented. Simulation results are consistent with experimental results. The proposed method

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9079215 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature