Superhydrophobic coating from self-assembly of nanoparticles
Aktanberdi Askerbay
Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Nazarbayev University,
Astana, Kazakhstan
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
High transparency is important to the performance of optical equipment and devices, such as
windows, lenses, solar panels, and safety goggles. As many of them are exposed to various
environmental conditions, there is a growing demand to develop new solutions in the
production self-cleaning coating that can prevent microbial growth, fouling, corrosion and
icing. One of the best technologies to solve these problems is superhydrophobic coating. This
research discusses recent advances in design, synthesis and fabrication of transparent,
superhydrophobic surfaces. First, we revisit different models of superhydrophobicity and
present the potential challenges in the nanofabrication of transparent superhydrophobic
surfaces. We then discuss the general fabrication methods, including the top-down fabrication
methods and self-assembly approaches, to create roughness with a size in the sub-visible
wavelength with or without posthydrophobilization steps. The study concludes with
perspectives on future directions and challenges in manipulation of surface nanoroughness,
specifically, using nanoparticles, for both high transparency and superhydrophobicity and their
potential applications.
References
1. Y. Rahmawan, L. Xu, Sh. Yang. J. Mater. Chem. A 1 (2013) 2955.