Super-hydrophobic surfaces, methods of their construction and uses therefor

• US 20050181195A1
• Filed: 04/27/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ONED Material Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dubrow, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,985,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/297.400
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/185 applying monomolecular layers B05D1/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/08 to obtain an anti-friction or anti-adhesive surface rendering particulate materials free-flowing in general, e.g. making them hydrophobic B01J2/30
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/083 involving the use of fluoropolymers
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/03 characterised by features other than the chemical nature of the binder
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/71 Paint detackifiers or coagulants, e.g. for the treatment of oversprays in paint spraying installations chemical paint removers C09D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/762 Nanowire or quantum wire, i.e. axially elongated structure having two dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/773 Nanoparticle, i.e. structure having three dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/778 within specified host or matrix material, e.g. nanocomposite films
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/783 Organic host/matrix, e.g. lipid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/832 having specified property, e.g. lattice-constant, thermal expansion coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24994 Fiber embedded in or on the surface of a polymeric matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249947 Polymeric fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/29 Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2904 Staple length fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/294 including metal or compound thereof [excluding glass, ceramic and asbestos]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2958 Metal or metal compound in coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2962 Silane, silicone or siloxane in coating

Abstract

This invention provides novel super-liquidphobic nanofibers and structures comprising such nanofibers, as well as methods and uses for such nanofibers.

Claims

1. A super-liquidphobic substrate comprising:

at least a first surface; and

, a plurality of nanofibers, which plurality of nanofibers comprises one or more exogenous liquidphobic material.

2. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a non-carbon material.

3. The substrate of claim 2, wherein the nanofibers comprise silicon.

4. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid nanofibers.

5. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise crystalline nanofibers.

6. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a surface density of from about 1 nanofiber per 10 micron² to about 200 or more nanofibers per micron² .

7. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a surface density of from about 10 nanofiber per micron² to about 100 or more nanofibers per micron² .

8. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a surface density of from about 25 nanofiber per micron² to about 75 or more nanofibers per micron² .

9. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a percent coverage of the first surface of from about 0.01% to about 50%.

10. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a percent coverage of the first surface of from about 0.5% to about 30%

11. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a percent coverage of the first surface of from about 5% to about 15%

12. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a percent coverage of the first surface of about 1%.

13. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a length of from about 1 micron to about 200 microns.

14. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a length of from about 10 microns to about 125 microns.

15. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a length of from about 1 micron to about 50 microns to about 100 microns.

16. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a diameter of from about 5 nanometers to about 1 micron.

17. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a diameter of from about 40 nm to about 200 nm

18. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a diameter of from about 75 nm to about 100 nm.

19. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a height to diameter aspect ratio of from approximately 2:

1 to about 40;

1 or greater.

20. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a height to diameter aspect ratio of from approximately 5:

1 to about 30;

1 or greater.

21. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a height to diameter aspect ratio of from approximately 10:

1 to about 20;

1 or greater.

22. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the surface comprises silicon, glass, a transparent substrate, a semi-transparent substrate, a translucent substrate, quartz, plastic, metal, polymers, TiO, ZnO, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, HgS, HgSe, HgTe, MgS, MgSe, MgTe, CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, GaN, GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InN, InP, InAs, InSb, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, AlS, AlP, AlSb, SiO₁, SiO₂, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyetherketone, polyimide, an aromatic polymer, or an aliphatic polymer.

23. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the exogenous material comprises one or more of a hydrophobic material, a lipophobic material, or an amphiphobic material.

24. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the exogenous material comprises one or more material selected from the group consisting of:

Teflon®

, Tri-sil, tridecafluoro 1,1,2,2, tetrahydrooctyl-l-tricholorosilane, a fluoride containing compound, a silane containing compound, PTFE, hexamethyldisilazane, an aliphatic hydrocarbon containing molecule, an aromatic hydrocarbon containing molecule, a halogen containing molecule and paralyene.

25. The substrate of claim 1, wherein a liquid drop on the substrate displays a contact angle from at least about 160°

to about 179.5°

or more.

26. The substrate of claim 1, wherein a liquid drop on the substrate displays a contact angle from at least about 170°

to about 179.5°

or more.

27. The substrate of claim 1, wherein a liquid drop on the substrate displays a contact angle from at least about 175°

to about 179.5°

or more.

28. The substrate of claim 1, wherein a liquid drop on the substrate displays a contact angle from at least about 178°

to about 179.5°

or more.

29. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise nanofibers that are grown on the at least first surface.

30. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise nanofibers that are grown on a second surface and transferred to the first surface.

32. A system or device comprising:

one or more super-liquidphobic substrate of claim 1 or claim 25.

31. A super-liquidphobic substrate, wherein a liquid drop on the substrate displays a contact angle of at least 160°

or more, wherein the substrate comprises;

at least a first surface, a plurality of nanofibers which nanofibers comprise one or more exogenous liquidphobic material, and which comprise a percent coverage of the substrate surface from about 0.01% to about 50%, and which comprise a length to diameter aspect ratio of from about 2;

1 to about 40;

1 or of from about 100;

1 to about 2000;

1.

33. A method of producing a contact angle of at least 160°

between one or more liquid drop and a substrate, the method comprising;

providing one or more liquid drop;

providing one or more substrate, which substrate comprises a first surface and a plurality of nanofibers comprising an exogenous liquidphobic material; and

, contacting the liquid drop with the one or more substrate.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the liquid drop comprises a lipid and/or a non-lipid.

35. A method of exchange between a first medium and one or more second medium, the method comprising:

providing a substrate with one or more surface area having a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers are treated with one or more exogenous material, thereby forming a super-liquidphobic substrate; and

physically contacting the first medium and the one or more second medium with the substrate.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the first medium is disposed solely between the members of the plurality of nanofibers and the one or more second medium is disposed solely above the plurality of nanofibers.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the first and second medium are chosen from the group consisting of gas and liquid.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein exchange comprises exchange of heat.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein exchange comprises exchange of one or more constituent between the first and one or more second medium, which constituent is present within the first and/or second medium.

41. A method for decreasing flow resistance in a channel, the method comprising:

providing a channel which comprises a substrate having one or more surface area with a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers are treated with one or more material thereby producing a super-liquidphobic substrate; and

, flowing a material through the channel.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the material comprises a gas, liquid, or solid.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the channel is a microfluidic channel.

45. A method for storing or transporting material in a vessel to decrease residual trapping of the material in the vessel, the method comprising:

providing a vessel comprising a wall with one or more surface area comprising a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers are treated with one or more exogenous material thereby producing a super-liquidphobic wall; and

, providing a material to be transported, which material is in physical contact with the wall.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the material comprises a fluid, a gas, or a solid.

48. A method for preventing or reducing accumulation of ice on a substrate, the method comprising:

providing a substrate with one or more surface area comprising a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers are treated with one or more exogenous material thereby producing a super-liquidphobic substrate; and

, subjecting the substrate to 0°

C. or colder in the presence of a liquid or gas comprising H₂O.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the substrate comprises an aircraft fuselage, wiring or component.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the substrate is heated.

52. A method for preventing or reducing leakage from a vessel, the method comprising:

providing a vessel comprising at least one wall with one or more surface area comprising a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers are treated with one or more exogenous material thereby producing a super-liquidphobic vessel wall; and

, providing one or more content of the vessel.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the vessel comprises an underground storage tank.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the content of the vessel comprises a toxin, waste, or hazardous material.

56. A method of preventing or reducing water intrusion into an area, the method comprising:

providing a component comprising at least one substrate with one or more surface area comprising a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers are treated with one or more exogenous material thereby producing a super-liquidphobic substrate; and

, providing water in physical contact with the substrate.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.

58. A method of platen printing, the method comprising:

providing at least one substrate with one or more surface area comprising a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers are treated with one or more exogenous material, thereby producing a super-liquidphobic substrate;

etching or removing one or more prescribed area of nanofibers within the surface area, thus producing a patterned area of super-liquidphobic substrate and a patterned area of bare surface not comprising nanofibers;

providing one or more ink or dye which preferentially locates within the patterned area of bare surface; and

, contacting the substrate with one or more second substrate, thus transferring the ink or dye to the second substrate in a pattern corresponding to the patterned area of bare surface.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.

60. A method of patterning a surface, the method comprising:

providing at least one substrate with one or more surface area comprising a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers are treated with one or more exogenous material, thereby producing a super-liquidphobic substrate; and

, etching or removing one or more prescribed area of nanofibers within the surface area, thus producing a patterned area of super-liquidphobic substrate and a patterned area of bare surface not comprising nanofibers.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.

62. A method of patterning a surface, the method comprising:

providing at least one substrate with one or more surface area comprising a plurality of nanofibers; and

, treating one or more region on the at least one substrate with one or more exogenous liquidphobic material in a selected pattern, thereby producing a patterned super-liquidphobic substrate.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the nanofibers comprise solid crystalline nanofibers.