Complex Wettability and Self-Cleaning Performance of Butterfly Wing Surface

The microstructure, hydrophobicity and chemical composition of butterfly wing surfaces were investigated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a video-based contact angle meter, and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). Using CaCO3 particle as simulated pollutant, the self-cleaning performance of the wing surface was measured. The wing surfaces possess complicated micro/nanostructures. According to the large contact angles (140.2~156.9°) and small sliding angles (1~3°) of water droplet, the butterfly wing surface is of high hydrophobicity and low adhesion. The average rate of CaCO3 pollution removal from the wing surface is as high as 86.2%. There is a good positive correlation (r=0.89) between pollution removal rate and roughness index of the wing surface. The coupling effects of hydrophobic material and rough microstructure contribute to the special complex wettability and remarkable self-cleaning property of the wing surface. Butterfly wing can be used as a template for design of superhydrophobic surface and self-cleaning material. This work may offer inspirations for biomimetic fabrication of novel interfacial material with multi-functions.

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The Relationship between Superhydrophobicity, Self-Cleaning Performance and Microstructure of Butterfly Wing

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.727-728.273 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 727-728 ◽

pp. 273-276

Author(s):

Gang Sun ◽

Yan Fang

Keyword(s):

Removal Rate ◽

Wing Surface ◽

Butterfly Wing ◽

Cleaning Performance ◽

Roughness Index ◽

Interfacial Material ◽

Self Cleaning ◽

Pollution Removal ◽

The Relationship ◽

Hydrophobic Material

The microstructure and hydrophobicity of butterflywing surfaces were investigated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an atomicforce microscope (AFM) and a contact angle meter. The relationship between hydrophobicity,self-cleaning performance and microstructuralcharacteristic was analyzed. The butterfly wing surface is of lowadhesion (water SA 1~3°) and high hydrophobicity (water CA 138~157°). Theaverage rate of CaCO3 pollutionremoval from the wing surface is as high as 86.2%. There is a good positive correlation (R2=0.873)between pollution removal rate and roughness index of the wing surface. The coupling effects of hydrophobic material andrough microstructure contribute to the complex wettability and remarkableself-cleaning property of the wing surface. Butterfly wing can be potentiallyused as a template for design of micro-controllable superhydrophobic surfaceand nano self-cleaning material. This work may offer inspirations forbiomimetic fabrication of novel interfacial material with multi-functions.

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Self-Cleaning Characteristic of the Insect (Lepidoptera) Wing Surfaces

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1089.198 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1089 ◽

pp. 198-201

Author(s):

Gang Sun ◽

Yan Fang

Keyword(s):

Coupling Effect ◽

Removal Rate ◽

Wing Surface ◽

Particle Removal ◽

Structural Element ◽

Sliding Angle ◽

Cleaning Performance ◽

Material Element ◽

Infrared Spectrometer ◽

Self Cleaning

The microstructure, hydrophobicity, adhesion and chemical composition of the butterfly and the moth wing surfaces were investigated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a contact angle (CA) meter, and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). Using ground calcium carbonate (heavy CaCO3) as contaminating particle, the self-cleaning performance of the wing surface was evaluated. The wing surfaces, composed of naturally hydrophobic material (chitin, protein, fat, etc.), possess complicated hierarchical micro/nanostructures. According to the large CA (149.5~156.9° for butterfly, 150.5~155.6° for moth) and small sliding angle (SA, 1~3°), the wing surface is of low adhesion and superhydrophobicity. The removal rate of contaminating particle from the wing surface is averagely 88.3% (butterfly wing) and 88.0% (moth wing). There is a good positive correlation (R2=0.8152 for butterfly, 0.8436 for moth) between particle removal rate and roughness index of the wing surface. The coupling effect of material element and structural element contributes to the outstanding superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning performance of the wing surface. The wings of Lepidoptera insect can be potentially used as templates for biomimetic preparation of intelligent interfacial material with multi-functions.

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Low Adhesive Superhydrophobicity and Self-Cleaning Property of Moth Wing

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1089.194 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1089 ◽

pp. 194-197

Author(s):

Gang Sun ◽

Yan Fang

Keyword(s):

Coupling Effect ◽

Removal Rate ◽

The Self ◽

Wing Surface ◽

Particle Removal ◽

Structural Element ◽

Sliding Angle ◽

Material Element ◽

Infrared Spectrometer ◽

Self Cleaning

The microstructure, hydrophobicity, adhesion, and chemical composition of moth wing surfaces were investigated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a contact angle (CA) meter, and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). Using ground calcium carbonate (heavy CaCO3) as contaminating particle, the self-cleaning performance of wing surface was evaluated. The self-cleaning mechanism was discussed from the perspective of biological coupling. The wing surfaces, composed of naturally hydrophobic material (chitin, protein, fat, etc.), possess complicated hierarchical micro/nano structures. According to the large CA (138.9~158.4°) and small sliding angle (SA, 1~3°) of water droplet, moth wing surface is of low adhesion and high hydrophobicity. The removal rate of contaminating particle from wing surface is averagely 83.8%. There is a good positive correlation (r=0.81) between particle removal rate and roughness index of wing surface. The coupling effect of material element and structural element leads to the remarkable hydrophobicity and self-cleaning property of the wing surface. Moth wing can be potentially used as a template for biomimetic design of functional material with complex wettability. This work may offer interesting inspirations for preparation of smart interfacial material.

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The Role of Hierarchical Micro-Morphology in the Wetting Property of Moth (Geometrinae) Wing Surface

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1095.651 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1095 ◽

pp. 651-654

Author(s):

Gang Sun ◽

Yan Fang

Keyword(s):

Removal Rate ◽

Average Rate ◽

Wing Surface ◽

Sliding Angle ◽

Biological Coupling ◽

Roughness Index ◽

Wetting Property ◽

Pollution Removal ◽

Micro Morphology

The micro-morphology of the moth wing surface was characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The contact angle (CA) and sliding angle (SA) of water droplet on the wing surface were measured by an optical CA meter. The wetting mechanism was discussed from the perspective of biological coupling. The moth wing surface is of superhydrophobicity (CA 143~156°) and low adhesion (SA 1~4°), and displays multiple-dimensional rough micro-morphology. The scales play a crucial role in the complex wettability of the wing. The average rate of CaCO3 pollution removal from the wing surface is as high as 87.3%. There is a positive correlation (R=0.8777) between pollution removal rate and roughness index of the wing. The cooperation of chemical composition and micro-morphology contributes to the special wettability and outstanding self-cleaning performance of the wing. The moth wing can serve as a template for biomimetic design and preparation of novel interfacial material with multi-functions.

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