Back to Search
Start Over
A travel in the Echeveria genus wettability's world
- Source :
- Applied Surface Science. 411:291-302
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Nature is a constant source of inspiration for researchers and engineers. In this work, we study the wettability of various species from the genus Echeveria. All species studied present very strong hydrophobic properties with various water adhesions. Echeveria ‘Perle von Nurnberg' has properties very close to superhydrophobicity with low water adhesion (sliding angle α = 15° and contact angle hysteresis H = 9°) while Echeveria pallida and Echeveria runyonii are completely sticky (parahydrophobic) and water droplets do not move even if the surface is inclined to 90°. This work shows that most of the differences in the hydrophobic properties depend on the amount of wax crystallization. However, Echeveria pulvinata shows special wettability results. Their leaves possess long hairs. When a water droplet is placed on the surface, the water droplet is completely sticky. When the size of the droplets becomes critical, the water droplets spread across the leaf surface displaying superhydrophilic properties. More investigations reveal that the hairs are highly hydrophobic and rough due to the presence of wax crystals while the bottom of the surface is smooth and hydrophilic. Such materials are excellent candidates for water harvesting systems and oil/water separation membranes.
- Subjects :
- Materials science
General Physics and Astronomy
Nanotechnology
02 engineering and technology
010402 general chemistry
01 natural sciences
law.invention
Contact angle
law
Superhydrophilicity
Crystallization
Wax
biology
Surfaces and Interfaces
General Chemistry
Adhesion
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Condensed Matter Physics
biology.organism_classification
0104 chemical sciences
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Chemical engineering
visual_art
visual_art.visual_art_medium
Echeveria runyonii
Echeveria
Wetting
0210 nano-technology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 01694332
- Volume :
- 411
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Applied Surface Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........4522e81610ab1db74f54827fda101b3e