Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed an optically transparent and substrate-independent coating that can modulate the mechanical properties of porous and fibrous substrates and their underwater oil wettability. The research team has introduced a chemical approach that allows for the orthogonal tailoring of the mechanical property of deformable substrates and underwater oil-wettability through the development of a covalently cross-linked and chemically reactive coating.
Key Outcomes:
- The covalently cross-linked and chemically reactive gel developed by the IIT Guwahati team can transform delicate and porous/fibrous substrates into mechanically hard and durable materials.
- The coating can modulate underwater oil-wettability, optical transparency, and mechanical property of even porous and fibrous deformable substrates.
- The coating can provide superoleophobicity with OCA of >160 through 1,4-conjugate addition reaction at ambient condition, and it can survive various challenging chemical and physical exposure.
The research team reported that the covalent cross-linkage in the deposited coating through the 1,4-conjugate addition reaction between amine and acrylate moieties contributed to the improved tensile and compressive modulus of the selected fibrous and porous substrates. The residual reactivity of the coating allowed for independent customization of underwater oil-wettability, including superoleophobicity with OCA of >160°. The coating can withstand various challenging chemical and physical exposures, and the improved mechanical property due to the cross-linked coating protects the porous and fibrous substrates from abrasive physical exposures.
The researchers used a reaction mixture loaded with micrometer-sized water droplets on planar substrates, which provided optically transparent underwater superoleophobicity. The evaporation of micrometer-sized water droplets from the deposited coating created an adequate topography to entrap the aqueous phase for conferring underwater superoleophobicity.
In conclusion, this facile and scalable chemical approach of developing optically transparent, substrate-independent, and physically/chemically tolerant underwater superoleophobicity would be useful in a wide range of relevant indoor and outdoor applications. The research has been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
Chemically Customizing Mechanical Properties and Optical Transparency in Underwater Superoleophobic Coating
Borbora; Dhar; Shome; Barman; Roy; Manna; Borbora; Dhar; Shome; Barman; Roy; Manna
Full-text link: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202302569
What this paper is about
- In this context, the design of a substrate-independent, durable, and optically transparent coating with the ability to 1 prevent oil/oily fouling and 2 transform a delicate and commercially available porous/fibrous substrate into mechanically hard and durable material is likely to provide remedies to the existing challenges at the marine environment.
- Instead of designing another geometrically ordered structure, here, we have introduced a chemical approach for orthogonal tailoring of i the mechanical property of highly deformable porous/fibrous substrates, and ii underwater oil-wettability through developing a covalently cross-linked and chemically reactive coating, as shown in Scheme 1.
- Thus, the single chemical approach allowed orthogonal modulation of underwater oil-wettability, optical transparency, and mechanical property of even porous and fibrous deformable substrates.
What you can learn
- In this context, an external load of 10 kg was placed on a lycra-based highly stretchable fibrous substrate, and as expected, a significant deformation and depletion of the uncoated fibrous substrate was observed.
- In conclusion, here IIT Guwahati researchers report a covalently cross-linked and chemically reactive gel to develop an optically transparent and substrate-independent coating that could orthogonally modulate the mechanical property of highly deformable fibrous and porous substrates and the underwater oil wettability.
- The covalent cross-linkage in the deposited coating through the 1,4-conjugate addition reaction between amine and acrylate moieties attributed to an improved tensile and compressive modulus of the selected fibrous and porous substrates, respectively, whereas the residual reactivity of the coating allowed to independently customize underwater oil-wettability-including superoleophobicity with OCA of >160 through 1,4-conjugate addition reaction at ambient condition.
Core Q&A related to this research
- What is the objective of the paper “Chemically Customizing Mechanical Properties and Optical Transparency in Underwater Superoleophobic Coating”?
- The objective is to design an optically transparent and substrate-independent coating that can prevent oil/oily fouling and transform a delicate and commercially available porous/fibrous substrate into mechanically hard and durable material.
- How did the researchers achieve the desired properties in the coating?
- The researchers achieved the desired properties in the coating by introducing a chemical approach for orthogonal tailoring of the mechanical property of highly deformable porous/fibrous substrates and underwater oil-wettability through developing a covalently cross-linked and chemically reactive coating.
- What is the importance of the cross-linked coating?
- The cross-linked coating improves the mechanical properties of the selected fibrous and porous substrates, protecting them from severely abrasive physical exposures.
- What is the significance of the residual reactivity of the coating?
- The residual reactivity of the coating allows for independent customization of underwater oil-wettability, including superoleophobicity with OCA of >160° through 1,4-conjugate addition reaction at ambient condition.
- What are the potential applications of the developed coating?
- The developed coating can be useful in a wide range of relevant indoor and outdoor applications, where optically transparent, substrate-independent, and physically/chemically tolerant underwater superoleophobicity is required.
Basic Q&A related to this research
What is a superoleophobic coating?
A superoleophobic coating is a type of coating that repels oil and other organic liquids. It has a very high contact angle with the liquid, causing the liquid to roll off the surface.
What is a chemical approach?
A chemical approach refers to using chemical reactions and processes to achieve a desired outcome. In the context of the above data, a chemical approach was used to modify the mechanical properties and oil-wettability of the substrate.
What is meant by mechanical property?
Mechanical property refers to the ability of a material to withstand mechanical stress or deformation. In the context of the above data, the mechanical property of the substrate was modified using a chemical approach to improve its durability.
What is optical transparency?
Optical transparency refers to the ability of a material to transmit light. In the context of the above data, an optically transparent coating was developed using a chemical approach.
What is underwater oil wettability?
Underwater oil-wettability refers to the ability of a material to repel or attract oil when submerged in water. In the context of the above data, a chemically reactive coating was developed to modulate the underwater oil-wettability of the substrate.
What is a fibrous substrate?
A fibrous substrate is a type of substrate that is made up of fibers. In the context of the above data, a fibrous substrate was used to demonstrate the efficacy of the developed coating.
What is a porous substrate?
A porous substrate is a type of substrate that has many small openings or pores. In the context of the above data, a porous substrate was used to demonstrate the efficacy of the developed coating.
What is covalent cross-linkage?
Covalent cross-linkage refers to the formation of covalent bonds between two or more molecules. In the context of the above data, a covalently cross-linked coating was developed using the 1,4-conjugate addition reaction between amine and acrylate moieties.
What is the 1,4-conjugate addition reaction?
The 1,4-conjugate addition reaction is a type of chemical reaction that involves the addition of a nucleophile to a conjugated system. In the context of the above data, the 1,4-conjugate addition reaction was used to cross-link the coating.
What are amine and acrylate moieties?
Amine and acrylate moieties are types of chemical groups that are involved in the 1,4-conjugate addition reaction. In the context of the above data, they were used to cross-link the coating.
What is tensile modulus?
Tensile modulus is a measure of a material’s stiffness or resistance to deformation under tension. In the context of the above data, the tensile modulus of the fibrous substrate was improved using the developed coating.
What is compressive modulus?
Compressive modulus is a measure of a material’s stiffness or resistance to deformation under compression. In the context of the above data, the compressive modulus of the porous substrate was improved using the developed coating.
What is a substrate-independent coating?
A substrate-independent coating is a type of coating that can be applied to various types of substrates. In the context of the above data, the developed coating was substrate-independent.
What is extreme oil repellence?
Extreme oil repellence refers to the ability of a material to repel oil to a very high degree. In the context of the above data, the developed coating exhibited extreme oil repellence.
