Self-Cleaning Surfaces: A New Approach for Water-Repellent Surfaces

It was observed that natural structures (such as lotus and rice leaves) which exhibit superhydrophobic (water-hating) and self-cleaning properties have micro- and nanoscale roughness on their surfaces. Typical superhydrophobic surface protects the surface from getting wet by repelling water drops. Owing to water repellency property, self-cleaning superhydrophobic surfaces have several applications in industry and daily life. In this study, the aim is to prepare superhydrophobic materials containing nano- and microscale surface roughness by using sol-gel and hydrothermal methods and to coat onto different surfaces (glass, paper,textile, metal etc.) In the study, in order to obtain nano- and microscale surface roughness, coating material will be prepared by using polymer, silica nanoparticles and metal complexes. Implementation of the prepared material onto the surface will be done via spray coating, spin-coating, and/or sol-dip-coating techniques. Hydrophobic and self-cleaning properties of the prepared material will be examined via contact angle and surface free energy measurements and the required optimizations will be done. Surface morphology, physical and chemical properties of the obtained surfaces will be characterized via SEM, TEM, UV-Vis and FTIR analysis. For the purpose of determining strength of material, some physical tests (film thickness, spreading and appearance, adhesion, strength, scratch resistance, brightness, adequacy of contamination, ultraviolet and temperature strength resistance) and chemical tests (detergent resistance and detergent /alkali) will be done. In the project, it is suggested that depending on coating type, surface can achieve properties such as antibacterial, anti-mold, antifungal, protection against acid, water and stain repellency, low contact adhesion, and preliminary studies for future are considered to be carried on in the biochemistry laboratory of our department. In the near future, when we consider the coating of surfaces exposing external factor that has mentioned above with this technology, the preparation of such a material at Atılım University and therewithal the production through industry partnership and introducing for usage while considering commercially carry great importance.