A general, rapid and solvent-free approach is proposed to fabricate nanostructured polymer surfaces by coupling ultrasonic vi- bration and anodized aluminum oxide templating. With our approach, hollow nanorods or nano...A general, rapid and solvent-free approach is proposed to fabricate nanostructured polymer surfaces by coupling ultrasonic vi- bration and anodized aluminum oxide templating. With our approach, hollow nanorods or nanofibers with controlled diameter and length are prepared on polymer surfaces. The whole fabrication process is completed in ~30 s and equally applicable to polymers of different crystalline structures. The wettability of the as-fabricated polymer surfaces (being hydrophilic, hydro- phobic, highly hydrophobic or even superhydrophobic) is readily regulated by adjusting the welding time from 0 s to a maxi- mum of 10 s. Our approach can be a promising industrial basis for manufacturing functional nanomaterials in the fields of electronics, optics, sensors, biology, medicine, coating, or fluidic technologies.展开更多
In order to bring graphene materials much closer to real world applications, it is imperative to have simple, efficient and eco-friendly ways to produce processable graphene derivatives. In this study, a hydrophilic l...In order to bring graphene materials much closer to real world applications, it is imperative to have simple, efficient and eco-friendly ways to produce processable graphene derivatives. In this study, a hydrophilic low-temperature thermally functionalized graphene and its super-hydrophobic organically modified graphene derivative were fabricated. A unique structural topology was found and some of the oxygen functionalities were retained on the thermally functionalized graphene surfaces, which facilitated the subsequent highly effective organic modification reaction and led to the super-hydrophobic organically modified graphene with multi functional applications in liquid marbles and polymer nanocomposites. The organic modification reaction also restored the graphenic conjugated structure of the thermally functionalized graphene, particularly for organic modifiers having longer alkyl chains, as confirmed by various characteri- zation techniques such as electrical conductivity measurements, ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The free-standing soft liquid marble was fabricated by wrapping a water droplet with the super-hydrophobic organically modified graphene, and showed potential for use as a microreactor. As for the polymer nanocomposites, a strong interfacial adhesion is believed to exist between an organic polymer matrix and the modified graphene because of the organophilic coating formed on the graphene base, which resulted in large improvements in the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer nanocomposites with the modified graphene, even at very low loading levels. A new avenue has therefore been opened up for large-scale production of processable graphene derivatives with various practicable applications.展开更多
Most current research on nanocomposites has focused on their bulk attributes, i.e., electrical, microwave, thermal, and mechanical properties. In practical applications, surface properties such as robustness against e...Most current research on nanocomposites has focused on their bulk attributes, i.e., electrical, microwave, thermal, and mechanical properties. In practical applications, surface properties such as robustness against environmental contamination are critical design considerations if intrinsic properties are to be maintained. The aim of this research is to combine the bulk properties of nanocomposites with the superhydrophobic surface properties provided by imprinting techniques to create a single multi-functional system with enhanced bulk properties. We report the development of a highly conductive superhydrophobic nanotube composite, which is directly superimposed with a durable dual hole pattern through imprinting techniques. The dual hole pattern avoids the use of high slenderness ratio structures resulting in a surface which is robust against physical damage. Its stable superhydrophobic properties were characterized both theoretically and experimentally. By incorporating high aspect ratio carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the dual patterned composites can also be effectively used for anti-icing and deicing applications where their superhydrophobic surface suppresses ice formation and their quick electric heating response at low voltage eliminates remaining frost. In addition, superior electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) was attained, with one of the highest values ever reported in the literature.展开更多
As a novel class of metallic materials, bulk metallic glasses(BMGs) have attracted a great deal of attention owing to their technological promise for practical engineering applications. In nature, biological materials...As a novel class of metallic materials, bulk metallic glasses(BMGs) have attracted a great deal of attention owing to their technological promise for practical engineering applications. In nature, biological materials exhibit inherent multifunctional integration, which provides some inspiration for scientists and engineers to construct multifunctional artificial materials. In this contribution, inspired by superhydrophobic self-cleaning lotus leaves, multifunctional bulk metallic glasses(BMG) materials have been fabricated through the thermoplastic forming-based process followed by the SiO_2/soot deposition. To mimic the microscale papillae of the lotus leaf, the BMG micropillar with a hemispherical top was first fabricated using micro-patterned silicon templates based on thermoplastic forming. The deposited randomly distributed SiO_2/soot nanostructures covered on BMG micropillars are similar to the branch-like nanostructures on papillae of the lotus leaf. Micro-nanoscale hierarchical structures endow BMG replica with superhydrophobicity, a low adhesion towards water, and self-cleaning, similar to the natural lotus leaf. Furthermore, on the basis of the observation of the morphology of BMG replica in the Si mould, the formation mechanism of BMG replica was proposed in this work. The BMG materials with multifunction integration would extend their practical engineering applications and we expect this method could be widely adopted for the fabrication of other multifunctional BMG surfaces.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.21374088)the grant from the Program for New Century Excellent Talents of Ministry of Education(Grant No.NCET-13-0476)+1 种基金the Program of Youth Science and Technology Nova of Shaanxi Province of China(Grant No.2013KJXX-21)the Program of New Staff and Research Area Project of NPU(Grant No.13GH014602)
文摘A general, rapid and solvent-free approach is proposed to fabricate nanostructured polymer surfaces by coupling ultrasonic vi- bration and anodized aluminum oxide templating. With our approach, hollow nanorods or nanofibers with controlled diameter and length are prepared on polymer surfaces. The whole fabrication process is completed in ~30 s and equally applicable to polymers of different crystalline structures. The wettability of the as-fabricated polymer surfaces (being hydrophilic, hydro- phobic, highly hydrophobic or even superhydrophobic) is readily regulated by adjusting the welding time from 0 s to a maxi- mum of 10 s. Our approach can be a promising industrial basis for manufacturing functional nanomaterials in the fields of electronics, optics, sensors, biology, medicine, coating, or fluidic technologies.
文摘In order to bring graphene materials much closer to real world applications, it is imperative to have simple, efficient and eco-friendly ways to produce processable graphene derivatives. In this study, a hydrophilic low-temperature thermally functionalized graphene and its super-hydrophobic organically modified graphene derivative were fabricated. A unique structural topology was found and some of the oxygen functionalities were retained on the thermally functionalized graphene surfaces, which facilitated the subsequent highly effective organic modification reaction and led to the super-hydrophobic organically modified graphene with multi functional applications in liquid marbles and polymer nanocomposites. The organic modification reaction also restored the graphenic conjugated structure of the thermally functionalized graphene, particularly for organic modifiers having longer alkyl chains, as confirmed by various characteri- zation techniques such as electrical conductivity measurements, ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The free-standing soft liquid marble was fabricated by wrapping a water droplet with the super-hydrophobic organically modified graphene, and showed potential for use as a microreactor. As for the polymer nanocomposites, a strong interfacial adhesion is believed to exist between an organic polymer matrix and the modified graphene because of the organophilic coating formed on the graphene base, which resulted in large improvements in the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer nanocomposites with the modified graphene, even at very low loading levels. A new avenue has therefore been opened up for large-scale production of processable graphene derivatives with various practicable applications.
文摘Most current research on nanocomposites has focused on their bulk attributes, i.e., electrical, microwave, thermal, and mechanical properties. In practical applications, surface properties such as robustness against environmental contamination are critical design considerations if intrinsic properties are to be maintained. The aim of this research is to combine the bulk properties of nanocomposites with the superhydrophobic surface properties provided by imprinting techniques to create a single multi-functional system with enhanced bulk properties. We report the development of a highly conductive superhydrophobic nanotube composite, which is directly superimposed with a durable dual hole pattern through imprinting techniques. The dual hole pattern avoids the use of high slenderness ratio structures resulting in a surface which is robust against physical damage. Its stable superhydrophobic properties were characterized both theoretically and experimentally. By incorporating high aspect ratio carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the dual patterned composites can also be effectively used for anti-icing and deicing applications where their superhydrophobic surface suppresses ice formation and their quick electric heating response at low voltage eliminates remaining frost. In addition, superior electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) was attained, with one of the highest values ever reported in the literature.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21273016, 51271195)the National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB933003, 2015CB856800)+1 种基金the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University, Beijing Higher Education Young Elite Teacher Project, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, 111 project (B14009)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJZDEW-M01, M03)
文摘As a novel class of metallic materials, bulk metallic glasses(BMGs) have attracted a great deal of attention owing to their technological promise for practical engineering applications. In nature, biological materials exhibit inherent multifunctional integration, which provides some inspiration for scientists and engineers to construct multifunctional artificial materials. In this contribution, inspired by superhydrophobic self-cleaning lotus leaves, multifunctional bulk metallic glasses(BMG) materials have been fabricated through the thermoplastic forming-based process followed by the SiO_2/soot deposition. To mimic the microscale papillae of the lotus leaf, the BMG micropillar with a hemispherical top was first fabricated using micro-patterned silicon templates based on thermoplastic forming. The deposited randomly distributed SiO_2/soot nanostructures covered on BMG micropillars are similar to the branch-like nanostructures on papillae of the lotus leaf. Micro-nanoscale hierarchical structures endow BMG replica with superhydrophobicity, a low adhesion towards water, and self-cleaning, similar to the natural lotus leaf. Furthermore, on the basis of the observation of the morphology of BMG replica in the Si mould, the formation mechanism of BMG replica was proposed in this work. The BMG materials with multifunction integration would extend their practical engineering applications and we expect this method could be widely adopted for the fabrication of other multifunctional BMG surfaces.