Article
Thermodynamics
Zhibing Zhu, Xuan Zhang, Yugang Zhao, Xiaoyang Huang, Chun Yang
Summary: The freezing characteristics of deposited water droplets on aluminum surfaces were investigated experimentally and theoretically compared with those of sessile droplets. The results showed differences in freezing behavior and frozen shapes between deposited and sessile droplets, depending on surface temperature and wettability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hengming Zhang, Shasha Liu, Xueyu Wang, Shideng Yuan, Shiling Yuan
Summary: The molecular structure of emulsified oil droplets was investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation results revealed that the stacking structure of asphaltene and resin molecules forms the netlike structure of the oil droplet. Introduction of nonionic surfactants alters the hydrophilicity of the oil droplet surface and disrupts the stacking structure inside the droplet, resulting in reduced viscosity of the emulsified heavy oil.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhenming Wang, Jin Zhao, Wanze Tang, Tongzhong He, Shang Wang, Xiaoqin He, Yang Chen, Dazhi Yang, Songlin Peng
Summary: The novel underwater adhesive designed in this study, based on dynamic hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, exhibits strong adhesion strength and debonding energy. It can be reversibly switched under alternating temperatures, showing versatile functions especially in clinical applications like tissue sealants and hemostatic dressing. This general and efficient strategy has the potential to develop next generation underwater adhesives for various technological and medical applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fabio Staniscia, Horacio Guzman, Matej Kanduc
Summary: This study investigates the adsorption behavior of short-chained alcohols to water-vapor interfaces and solid surfaces with different polarities using molecular dynamics simulations. The researchers derive an equation for the adsorption coefficient, which shows exponential dependence on both molecular surface area and surface wetting coefficient. The findings suggest that the influence of surfactants on sessile droplets is strongest on highly hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, while moderately hydrophilic surfaces are less affected.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chung-Te Huang, Ching-Wen Lo, Ming-Chang Lu
Summary: This study developed a superhydrophobic surface with a double-reentrant groove (DRG) array, which can suppress the Leidenfrost effect and reduce the contact time of droplets impacting a solid surface at high temperatures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tobias Materzok, Annabelle Canestraight, Stanislav N. Gorb, Florian Muller-Plathe
Summary: In this study, a model of gecko keratin was developed to investigate the influence of electrostatic and van der Waals forces on gecko adhesion. The results showed that the pull-off force increased with increased water content and was inversely related to the water contact angle of the surface. The number and charge density of keratin and water at the surface were also found to play an important role in adhesion.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rui Zhao, Meng Yu, Zhe Sun, Shou-he Pan, Yin-min Wang, Ying-jian Ma, Xin-yu Guo, Yong Xu, Xue-min Wu
Summary: The length of the hydrophilic chain in nonionic surfactants has an impact on the regulation of droplet impact behavior and wetting behavior on hydrophobic surfaces. Longer hydrophilic chains lead to better regulation of droplet impact behavior and suppression of droplet rebound, while shorter hydrophilic chains lead to better regulation of droplet wetting behavior. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism behind regulating droplet behavior and surfactant solution wetting on hydrophobic surfaces.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bekir Sami Yilbas, Ghassan Hassan, Hussain Al-Qahtani, Abdullah Al-Sharafi, A. Z. Sahin
Summary: This study examined the mechanism of cleaning environmental dust from hydrophobic surfaces using rolling water droplets, analyzing the elemental composition and shapes of dust particles, as well as the solubility of some dust compounds in water. Hydrophobic glass surfaces were treated with functionalized nano-size silica particles, and the process of droplet fluid infusion on dust particle surfaces was monitored. The findings showed that alkaline and alkaline earth metal compounds in dust can dissolve in water, potentially damaging dusty surfaces, while the covering of droplet liquid on dust particles is essential for their removal from hydrophobic surfaces by rolling water droplets.
SURFACES AND INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Luis Humberto Robledo-Taboada, Javier Francisco Jimenez-Jarquin, Fernando Chinas-Castillo, Antonio Mendez-Blas, Santiago Camacho-Lopez, Laura Elvira Serrano-de La Rosa, Magdaleno Caballero-Caballero, Rafael Alavez-Ramirez, Martha Hilaria Bartolo-Aleman, Efren Normando Enriquez-Porras
Summary: This study investigated the effects of surface texturing on friction and wear using different current levels to anodize p-type silicon samples. The results showed that low currents generated mesoporous silicon surfaces with low friction, while high currents generated macroporous silicon surfaces with high friction. The study also revealed a direct correlation between pore size and wear volume, as well as scar diameter.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Justin Engstler, Nicolas Giovambattista
Summary: Water-mediated interactions play important roles in aqueous solutions, affecting processes such as protein folding and nanoparticle aggregation. This study investigates the impact of temperature and pressure on different types of interactions between graphene-based surfaces. The results show that hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and hybrid interactions are all sensitive to pressure, while only hydrophobic interactions are significantly affected by temperature variations. The findings have implications for understanding protein denaturation and biomolecular interactions, as well as for the design of water models for molecular and nanoparticle systems under different thermodynamic conditions.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lifei He, Lei Ding, Beixing Li, Wei Mu, Peigiang Li, Feng Liu
Summary: Adding surfactants to pesticide spray can reduce the bounce and splash of pesticide droplets, increase their adhesion and retention on cucumber leaves, and decrease the ejection of powdery mildew spores.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Anwaruddin Siddiqui Mohammed, Bekir Sami Yilbas, Hussain Al-Qahtani, Abba Abdulhamid Abubakar, Muhammed Hawwa, Mahmood Kassas
Summary: This study examines the dynamics of dust mitigation from inclined hydrophilic/hydrophobic glass surfaces after introducing electrostatic repulsion. The findings suggest that hydrophobizing the surfaces reduces particle adhesion and the force of adhesion remains larger for smaller particles. Surface tilting influences the dynamics of inflight particles, dust mitigation rate, and optical characteristics of the surfaces.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROSTATICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Zhantao Wang, Xiaojuan Liu, Li Wang, Cunlu Zhao, Danfeng Zhou, Jiazheng Wei
Summary: This study reports for the first time the phenomenon of droplet trampolining using electrowetting and provides consistent results through experiments and simulations. The findings are important for applications that require vertical transportation of droplets or detachment of droplets from solid surfaces.
Article
Mechanics
Uijin Kim, Hyeongwon Kim, Jeong-Hyun Kim
Summary: Understanding the contact line dynamics of water droplets on hydrophobic surfaces containing groove structures is important for analyzing droplet motion and utilizing it for directional droplet transport. In this study, we fabricated such surfaces and visualized the advancing and receding contact line dynamics using high-speed imaging. We found that droplet volume, surface inclination angle, and groove geometry affected the sizes and shapes of the residual droplets deposited on the grooves.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Manuel R. Uhlig, Simone Benaglia, Ravindra Thakkar, Jeffrey Comer, Ricardo Garcia
Summary: Hydration layers form on hydrophilic and hydrophobic crystalline surfaces, but on hydrophobic surfaces, water molecules are expelled and replaced by hydrocarbon molecules near the surface, creating a new interfacial layer.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Moritz A. Junker, Jurjen A. Regenspurg, Cristobal I. Valdes Rivera, Esra te Brinke, Wiebe M. de Vos
Summary: Polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM)-based membranes have gained significant attention as alternative nanofiltration (NF) membranes over conventional polyamide-based thin film composite membranes. They offer superior properties such as high chemical resistance and excellent filtration performance. However, these membranes show a strong dependency of their structure and performance on the pH of the filtered solution, especially for membranes based on weak polyelectrolytes.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Anna M. C. Maan, Chantal N. Graafsma, Anton H. Hofman, Theophile Pelras, Wiebe M. de Vos, Marleen Kamperman
Summary: In this study, a two-step adsorption strategy was used to fabricate high-density block copolymer-based antifouling coatings on hydrophobic surfaces, showing better performance compared to one-step adsorbed coatings. The obtained coating effectively suppressed the attachment of both lysozyme and bovine serum albumin due to its dense and homogeneous surface structure, as well as the desired polymer conformation. Moreover, the inherent reversibility of the adhered complex coacervate core micelles allowed for triggered release and regeneration, resulting in full recovery of its antifouling properties. This simple and reversible antifouling strategy holds unique and promising potential for large-scale underwater applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yagnaseni Roy, Remco W. Top, Wiebe M. de Vos, Boelo Schuur
Summary: This study focuses on the recovery of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) used for wood pulping by removing residual hemicellulosic derivatives through reverse osmosis (RO). Xylose and furfural are considered representative hemicellulosic derivatives, and a lactic acid-choline chloride DES is utilized. The rejection of xylose is high in both pure water and organic solvents (such as acetone) using the RO membrane, while furfural is poorly rejected in all solvents. Based on these findings, a separation scheme is proposed to achieve complete mass recovery of each component in the mixture.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Tao Wang, Joris de Grooth, Wiebe M. de Vos
Summary: The structure with a selective nanofiltration layer on top of a catalytic ultrafiltration membrane can treat micropollutants through both rejection and degradation. However, the dense selective layer causes highly concentrated retentate and low oxidant utilization. By changing the membrane orientation, the concentrated micropollutants can be degraded within the catalytic support, and the oxidant rejection can be avoided.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Shuyana A. Heredia Deba, Bas A. Wols, Doekle R. Yntema, Rob G. H. Lammertink
Summary: Membranes with different TiO2 top layer thicknesses were fabricated and characterized. The optimal photocatalyst thickness was found to be 2.74 μm for single-layer membranes, while an increase in degradation was observed for membranes with multiple TiO2 layers. A mass transport and reaction model was developed to describe the coating thickness effect.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tao Wang, Enrique Serra Bachs, Joris de Grooth, Wiebe M. de Vos
Summary: The in situ synthesis of Fe-0 particles using poly-(acrylic acid) (PAA) is an effective method for fabricating catalytic membranes for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). By synthesizing Fe-0 nanoparticles in polyelectrolyte multilayer-based nanofiltration membranes, organic micropollutants can be simultaneously rejected and degraded. The chemical stability of the multilayers greatly influences the effectiveness of Fe-0 synthesis, with asymmetric multilayers exhibiting better results compared to symmetric multilayers. The combination of asymmetric polyelectrolyte multilayers and AOPs shows great potential for the treatment of micropollutants.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lijie Li, Muhammad Irshad Baig, Wiebe M. de Vos, Saskia Lindhoud
Summary: Natural polyelectrolytes were used to produce more sustainable APS membranes. The desired homogeneous casting solution was prepared by changing the solution pH and monomer ratio of polyelectrolytes. The membrane structure and properties could be tuned by changing the concentration and pH of the acetate buffer.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Emad Al-Dhubhani, Michele Tedesco, Wiebe M. de Vos, Michel Saakes
Summary: Electrospinning combined with electrospraying can produce efficient bipolar membranes (BPMs) with enhanced water dissociation performance by introducing MCM-41 as a catalyst, which is of great significance for fuel cell and flow battery applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Moritz A. Junker, Esra te Brinke, Clara M. Vall Compte, Rob G. H. Lammertink, Joris de Grooth, Wiebe M. de Vos
Summary: Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) show promise as selective layers in nanofiltration (NF) due to their simplicity, controlled layer thickness, and versatility. Combining two different PEMs in an asymmetric structure allows further optimization. This study combines experimental filtration and theoretical models to describe the effective structure of an asymmetric PEM made of PAH/PSS and PAH/PAA. The obtained membrane properties suggest a distinct layer structure, and there is a fundamental difference in the retention of salt and polyethylene glycol molecules, attributed to different exclusion mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Sam B. Rutten, Moritz A. Junker, Lucia Hernandez Leal, Wiebe M. de Vos, Rob G. H. Lammertink, Joris de Grooth
Summary: Nanofiltration (NF) is a promising technology for treating water sources with increasing micropollutant (MP) concentrations. Understanding the influence of solution composition on filtration performance is important. This study investigated the impact of dominant salts on the removal of trace MPs by commercial hollow fiber NF membranes. The presence of a dominant salt significantly altered MP transport behavior, with a higher mobility of MPs observed in the dNF80 membrane.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Anna M. C. Maan, Anton H. Hofman, Theophile Pelras, Ilan M. Ruhof, Marleen Kamperman, Wiebe M. de Vos
Summary: This study improves the adsorption-based zipper brush by adjusting various parameters, resulting in enhanced antifouling properties. Increasing the hydrophobic/hydrophilic block ratio promotes adsorption, the weak polyelectrolyte blocks at neutral pH and low salt concentration show the best antifouling efficacy, and switching to different antifouling blocks further enhances the antifouling performance.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tjerk R. Watt, Stefan Peil, Wendy A. Jonkers, Jurjen A. Regenspurg, Frederik R. Wurm, Wiebe M. de Vos
Summary: Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMMs) are versatile materials for nanofiltration membranes, but their nonrenewable nature raises sustainability concerns. This study proposes lignin as a renewable and biodegradable alternative for PEMM fabrication. Experimental results demonstrate that lignin can effectively replace fossil-based polyelectrolytes, producing PEMMs with excellent nanofiltration properties and stability.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Roman Nickisch, Wiebe M. de Vos, Michael A. R. Meier, Muhammad Irshad Baig
Summary: In this study, polymeric membranes with metal-complexing ligands were prepared using polythiosemicarbazone (pTSC) as the material. The membranes exhibited asymmetric structures and porous properties controlled by the polymer concentration. The pTSC membranes showed efficient removal of silver and copper ions in both batch and dynamic adsorption experiments, and they could be successfully reused after partial desorption of silver ions.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Moritz A. Junker, Jurjen A. Regenspurg, Cristobal I. Valdes Rivera, Esra te Brinke, Wiebe M. de Vos
Summary: Over the past decade, polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM)-based membranes have gained attention in the field of nanofiltration (NF) as an alternative to conventional polyamide-based thin film composite membranes. This study investigates the susceptibility of membrane structure and performance to the pH of the filtration solution for four fundamentally different PEM systems.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiping Yin, Zhe Wang, Hua Zou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for preparing dimpled polymer-silica nanocomposite particles using interfacial swelling-based seeded polymerization. The optimized conditions allow for a relatively high percentage of dimpled particles to be achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Brenden D. Hoehn, Elizabeth A. Kellstedt, Marc A. Hillmyer
Summary: Porous materials with nanometer-scale pores have important applications as nanoporous membranes. In this study, ABA triblock copolymers were used as precursors to produce nanoporous polymeric membranes (NPMs) in thin film form by degrading the end blocks. Polycyclooctene (PCOE) NPMs with tunable pore sizes were successfully prepared using solvent casting technique. Oxygen plasma etching was employed to improve the surface porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes. This study provides a straightforward method to produce tough NPMs with high porosity and hydrophilic surface properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Stepan I. Zholudev, Igor I. Potemkin
Summary: This article investigates the behavior of linear and ring polypeptide chains in aqueous solution and explores the properties of the complexes formed by these chains with oppositely charged surfactants. The results demonstrate that the complexes of linear supercharged unfolded polypeptides and the corresponding surfactants exhibit impressive adhesive properties.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Merve Cevik, Serkan Dikici
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally, and vascular grafts are a promising treatment option. This study focuses on tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) using decellularized parsley stems as a potential biomaterial. The decellularized parsley stems showed suitable properties for TEVGs, providing a suitable environment for human endothelial cells to form a pseudo endothelium. This study showcases the potential of using parsley stems for TEVGs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gustavo A. Vasquez-Montoya, Tadej Emersic, Noe Atzin, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez, Ali Mozaffari, Rui Zhang, Orlando Guzman, Alexey Snezhko, Paul F. Nealey, Juan J. de Pablo
Summary: The optical properties of liquid crystals are typically controlled by electric fields. In this study, we investigate the effects of microfluidic flows and acoustic fields on the molecular orientation and optical response of nematic liquid crystals. We identify several previously unknown structures and explain them through calculations and simulations. These findings hold promise for the development of new systems combining sound, flow, and confinement.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinjun Wu, Xin Guan, Shushu Chen, Jiangpeng Jia, Chongyi Chen, Jiawei Zhang, Chuanzhuang Zhao
Summary: This research presents a novel shape memory hydrogel with a remodelable permanent shape and programmable cold-induced shape recovery behavior. The hydrogel is prepared using specific treatment methods to achieve shape fixation by heating and shape recovery by cooling. Additionally, deformable devices can be obtained by assembling hydrogel blocks with different concentrations.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rebecca Hengsbach, Gerhard Fink, Ulrich Simon
Summary: This study examines the properties of DNA functionalized pNipmam microgels and pure pNipmam microgels at different concentrations of sodium chloride and in PBS solutions using temperature dependent H-1-NMR measurements. The results show that DNA modification affects the volume phase transition temperature and the addition of salt and PBS further enhances this effect.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ningyi Li, Junhong Li, Lijingting Qing, Shicheng Ma, Yao Li, Baohui Li
Summary: This paper investigates the self-assembly behavior of colloids with competing interactions under spherical confinement and finds that different ordered structures can be formed under different sized spherical confinements. Moreover, more perforated structures are formed in smaller spheres.
