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    Conformally anodizing hierarchical structure in a deformed tube towards energy-saving liquid transportation

    Year: 2022

    Journal: Chem. Eng. J., Volume 431, MAR 1

    Authors: Li, Wei; Zhou, Honghao; Zhao, Kaiqi; Jin, Jian; Chen, Xue; Shahzad, Muhammad Wakil; Jiang, Yinzhu; Matar, Omar K.; Dai, Sheng; Xu, Ben Bin; Sun, Lidong

    Organizations: National Natural Science Foundation of China [51871037]; Natural Sci-ence Foundation of Chongqing, China [CQYC201905023]; Chongqing Talents: Exceptional Young Talents Project [cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0063]; National Key Research and Development Program of China [2020YFF0421893]; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) [grant-EP/N007921/1]

    Keywords: Electrochemical anodization; Wetting; Deformed tube; Drag reduction; TiO2 nanotubes

    The creation of drag-reducing surfaces in deformed tubes is of vital importance to thermal management, energy, and environmental applications. However, it remains a great challenge to tailor the surface structure and wettability inside the deformed tubes of slim and complicated feature. Here, we describe an electrochemical anodization strategy to achieve uniform and superhydrophobic coating of TiO2 nanotube arrays throughout the inner surface in deformed/bend titanium tubes. Guided by a hybrid carbon fibre cathode, conformal electric field can be generated to adaptatively fit the complex geometries in the deformed tube, where the structural design with rigid insulating beads can self-stabilize the hybrid cathode at the coaxial position of the tube with the electrolyte flow. As a result, we obtain a superhydrophobic coating with a water contact angle of 157 and contact angle hysteresis of less than 10. Substantial drag reduction can be realised with an overall reduction up to 25.8 % for the anodized U-shaped tube. Furthermore, we demonstrate to spatially coat tubes with complex geometries, to achieve energy-saving liquid transportation. This facile coating strategy has great implications in liquid transport processes with the user-friendly approach to engineer surface regardless of the deformation of tube/pipe.
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