A hybrid bioinspired fiber trichome with special wettability for water collection, friction reduction and self-cleaning

Inspired by biological surfaces, we designed a magnetic fiber trichome based on the surface properties of caterpillars and earthworms. The caterpillar-inspired fiber trichome possesses a cooperative superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic-slippery lubricant-infused porous surface with gradient wettability...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nanoscale 2019-06, Vol.11 (24), p.11774-11781
Main Authors: Li, Deke, Wang, Zhentao, Wu, Daheng, Han, Guocai, Guo, Zhiguang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antifouling
Caterpillars
Collection
Continuous fibers
Friction
Friction reduction
Friction resistance
Hydrophobicity
Lubricants
Lubrication
Magnetic properties
Mud
Oil spills
Self lubrication
Surface properties
Wear resistance
Wettability
Worms
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Summary:Inspired by biological surfaces, we designed a magnetic fiber trichome based on the surface properties of caterpillars and earthworms. The caterpillar-inspired fiber trichome possesses a cooperative superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic-slippery lubricant-infused porous surface with gradient wettability and shows excellent fog harvesting behavior due to the driving force of the gradient wettability fiber similar to caterpillar spines. The earthworm-inspired fiber trichome exhibits excellent friction reduction and antiwear properties under harsh oil-bathed friction conditions, and it moves rapidly in mud under magnetic stimulation because of the self-lubricating transfer film formed between friction contact surfaces. In addition, the earthworm-inspired fiber trichome also has continuous antifouling capacity in mud due to the self-releasing lubricating layer that can be replenished after being consumed under solid friction. Therefore, the caterpillar- and earthworm-inspired fiber trichomes extend the scope of potential applications, such as self-driven water collection, self-floating oil spill cleanup, reducing friction and wear resistance, high-efficiency antifouling, and transport of heavy loads, among others. The caterpillar-inspired fiber trichome can form gradient wettability to harvest water in a manner similar to that of a caterpillar thorn, and the earthworm-inspired fiber trichome can show low friction, antiwear and self-lubricating properties by a self-lubricating interface akin to the slippery skin of a earthworm trichome in sticky soil.
ISSN:2040-3364
2040-3372
DOI:10.1039/c9nr03882e