Self-cleaning effect of highly water-repellent microshell structures for solar cell applications

The massive and long-term service of 5083 aluminum alloy (AA5083) is restricted by several shortcomings in marine and industrial environments, such as proneness to localized corrosion attack, surface contamination, etc. Herein, we report a facile and cost-effective strategy to transform intrinsic hydrophilicity into water-repellent superhydrophobicity, combining fluorine-free chemisorption of a hydrophobic agent with etching texture. Dual-scale hierarchical structure, surface height relief and surface chemical elements were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), successively. Detailed investigations of the wetting property, self-cleaning effect, NaCl-particle self-propelling, corrosion and long-term behavior of the consequent superhydrophobic AA5083 surface were carried out, demonstrating extremely low adhesivity and outstanding water-repellent, self-cleaning and corrosion-resisting performance with long-term stability. We believe that the low cost, scalable and fluorine-free transforming of metallic surface wettability into waterproof superhydrophobicity is a possible strategy towards anti-contamination and marine anti-corrosion.

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Preparation of organic–inorganic hybrid methylene blue polymerized organosilane/sepiolite pigments with superhydrophobic and self-cleaning properties

Textile Research Journal ◽

10.1177/0040517519829924 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 89 (19-20) ◽

pp. 4220-4229 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shengtao Wu ◽

Jinliang Huang ◽

Haishuai Cui ◽

Tian Ye ◽

Fang Hao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Methylene Blue ◽

Natural World ◽

Shielding Effect ◽

Water Repellent ◽

Inorganic Hybrid ◽

Lotus Leaf ◽

Spider Web ◽

Chemical Inertness ◽

Optical Stability ◽

Self Cleaning

Inspired by the self-cleaning and water-repellent properties of the lotus leaf in the natural world, a kind of organic–inorganic hybrid pigment with superhydrophobic properties was prepared by adsorption of cationic methylene blue (MB) azo dyes onto acid-treated sepiolite (SEP), and then a superhydrophobic functional group of polymerized organosilanes (POSs) obtained from hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) was introduced onto the composite pigments (MB/SEP). The excellent chemical, thermal and optical stability of MB@POS/SEP are due to the shielding effect caused by the chemical inertness of the POS sheet. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic MB@POS/SEP pigments show an extraordinary self-cleaning property, which is similar to the waterproof property of the lotus leaf and spider web. The superhydrophobicity is strongly linked to their chemical composition and morphology, which can be adjusted by varying the concentration of HDTMS and TEOS. This kind of superhydrophobic pigment can be applied in various fields, such as ceramics, building and daily necessities.

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Hybrid energy system based on solar cell and self-healing/self-cleaning triboelectric nanogenerator

Nano Energy ◽

10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105394 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 ◽

pp. 105394

Author(s):

Dan Yang ◽

Yufeng Ni ◽

Hao Su ◽

Yuxiang Shi ◽

Qiming Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cell ◽

Energy System ◽

Triboelectric Nanogenerator ◽

Self Healing ◽

Hybrid Energy System ◽

Hybrid Energy ◽

Self Cleaning

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UV curable hydrophobic inorganic–organic hybrid coating on solar cell covers for photocatalytic self cleaning application

Journal of Materials Chemistry A ◽

10.1039/c3ta12314f ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (40) ◽

pp. 12641 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Venu Sreekala Smitha ◽

Kanakkanmavudy B. Jaimy ◽

Palantavida Shajesh ◽

Jose K. Jeena ◽

Krishna Gopakumar Warrier

Keyword(s):

Solar Cell ◽

Hybrid Coating ◽

Uv Curable ◽

Organic Hybrid ◽

Self Cleaning

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Transparent Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) as Antireflection and Self-cleaning Solar Cell Coating

Engineering Applications of Nanotechnology - Topics in Mining, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-29761-3_4 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 101-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Morteza Khalaji Assadi ◽

Hengameh Hanaei

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Solar Cell ◽

Cell Coating ◽

Self Cleaning

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Progress in Sol-Gel Technology for the Coatings of Fabrics

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma13081838 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1838 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aravin Prince Periyasamy ◽

Mohanapriya Venkataraman ◽

Dana Kremenakova ◽

Jiri Militky ◽

Yan Zhou

Keyword(s):

Flame Retardant ◽

Sol Gel ◽

Dip Coating ◽

Uv Protection ◽

Water Repellent ◽

Water Separation ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Wrinkle Resistance ◽

Color Changes ◽

Self Cleaning

The commercial availability of inorganic/organic precursors for sol-gel formulations is very high and increases day by day. In textile applications, the precursor-synthesized sol-gels along with functional chemicals can be deposited onto textile fabrics in one step by rolling, padding, dip-coating, spraying or spin coating. By using this technology, it is possible to provide fabrics with functional/multi-functional characteristics including flame retardant, anti-mosquito, water- repellent, oil-repellent, anti-bacterial, anti-wrinkle, ultraviolet (UV) protection and self-cleaning properties. These surface properties are discussed, describing the history, basic chemistry, factors affecting the sol-gel synthesis, progress in sol-gel technology along with various parameters controlling sol-gel technology. Additionally, this review deals with the recent progress of sol-gel technology in textiles in addressing fabric finishing, water repellent textiles, oil/water separation, flame retardant, UV protection and self-cleaning, self-sterilizing, wrinkle resistance, heat storage, photochromic and thermochromic color changes and the improvement of the durability and wear resistance properties.

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