Contact
    Start Publications Enhanced super-hydrophobic and switching behavior of ZnO ...
    ←  Publication Finder
    Attension

    Enhanced super-hydrophobic and switching behavior of ZnO nanostructured surfaces prepared by simple solution-immersion successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction process

    Year: 2011

    Journal: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2011, 363 (1) pp 51-58, 20121211

    Authors: P. Suresh Kumar, J. Sundaramurthy, D. Mangalaraj, D. Nataraj, D. Rajarathnam, M.P. Srinivasan

    Organizations: Thin Film and Nanomaterials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, India, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, India, CERAR, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA-5095, Australia

    A simple and cost-effective successiveioniclayeradsorption and reaction (SILAR) method was adopted to fabricate hydrophobicZnOnanostructuredsurfaces on transparent indium–tin oxide (ITO), glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. ZnO films deposited on different substrates show hierarchical structures like spindle, flower and spherical shape with diameters ranging from 30 to 300 nm. The photo-induced switchingbehaviors of ZnO film surfaces between hydrophobic and hydrophilic states were examined by water contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. ZnOnanostructured films had contact angles of ~140° and 160° ± 2 on glass and PET substrates, respectively, exhibiting hydrophobicbehavior without any surface modification or treatment. Upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) illumination, the films showed hydrophilic behavior (contact angle: 15° ± 2), which upon low thermal stimuli revert back to its original hydrophobic nature. Such reversible and repeatable switchingbehaviors were observed upon cyclical exposure to ultraviolet radiation. These biomimetic ZnOsurfaces exhibit good anti-reflective properties with lower reflectance of 9% for PET substrates. Thus, the present work is significant in terms of its potential application in switching devices, solar coatings and self-cleaning smart windows.