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Electrochemical Wettability Control on Cu/CuxO Core-Shell Dendrites: In-Situ Droplet Modulation and On-Demand Oil-Water Separation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2018

Chun Haow Kung
Affiliation:
Clean Energy Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, 6250Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Beniamin Zahiri
Affiliation:
Clean Energy Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, 6250Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Pradeep Kumar Sow
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
Walter Mérida*
Affiliation:
Clean Energy Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, 6250Applied Science Lane, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
*
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Abstract

Stimuli-responsive materials with controlled reversible wettability find diverse application as self-cleaning surfaces, tunable optical lenses and microfluidic devices. We report on an electrochemical approach for dynamic control over the wetting properties of additive-free Cu/CuxO core-shell dendritic structures. By varying the oxidation state of the oxide shell phase, the entire wettability range spanning superhydrophobicity (contact angle > 150°) to superhydrophilicity (contact angle < 10°) can be precisely adjusted in-situ. During the wetting transitions, the surface transforms from a low adhesive rolling state (lotus effect) to high adhesive pinning state (petal effect), and eventually to superhydrophilic state with a water-absorbing ability (fish scale wetting). The wetting alteration is reversible via air-drying at room temperature or mild heat drying at 100°C. The reversibly redox-driven wettability switching is demonstrated for controllable oil-water separation with efficiency higher than 98 percent.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2018 

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