Biomimetic super-wetting materials refer to a kind of materials which are similar to organism interfaces with special wettability in nature. In recent twenty years, a series of biomimetic super-wetting materials have been designed by researchers contributed to massive researches which are imitating organism in nature. These materials are demonstrated to possess applications in numerous application fields such as national defense, military project, aerospace, construction industry, agriculture, medical and marine antifouling. More importantly, plentiful construction mechanisms and systematic principles of biomimetic super-wetting materials have been revealed and presented by researchers which significantly promote the development of them. In this review, basic theories and influence factors of surface wetting phenomena of solid surfaces are introduced firstly. Secondly, several surfaces with different wettability represented by mimicking lotus leaf, fish scale, desert beetles and nepenthes pitcher plant materials are described from the view of biomimic. Furthermore, the bionic design principles, relationship between structure and properties and the current challenges of these materials are summarized. In addition, the recent developments of biomimetic super-wetting materials which are capable of meeting needs in anti-fouling, anti-bacterial, anti-fogging, anti-frosting, anti-icing and oil-water separation, etc. are reviewed. Finally, the prospective tendency of biomimetic super-wetting materials is proposed based on the challenges.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Surface wetting phenomena and influencing factors
3 Different biomimetic super-wetting surfaces and preparation
3.1 Superhydrophobic
3.2 Superhydrophilic
3.3 Amphiphilic
3.4 SLIPS
4 Applications of super-wetting materials
4.1 Anti-fouling and anti-bacterial
4.2 Anti-fogging, anti-frosting and anti-icing
4.3 Oil-water separation
4.4 Others
5 Conclusion