Work

Recent advances in fluorine-free functionalized nanomaterials for low-wettability applications

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: The reduction in wettability afforded by applying superhydrophobic coatings onto substrate materials imbues many useful properties. This review presents recent research advancements of superhydrophobic surfaces formed from functionalised nanoparticles in some of their most promising applications. Silica and metal oxide nanoparticles can be readily functionalised with commercially available hydrophobic compounds to lower their surface energy and can be easily applied to materials with complicated forms and topographies using methods such as spraying or dipping, thus making the coating process adaptable to many situations. Advances in these coatings for imbuing icephobicity, corrosion resistance, self-cleaning, oil-in-water separation, and anti-biofouling behaviour are presented in this short review.

Source: Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2025.101922

Authors: Donald Hill, Henry Apsey, Shirin Alexander

Institutions: Swansea University, Energy Safety Research Institute

Language: English

Topic: Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity

Subfield: Surfaces, Coatings and Films

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,210

Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council