UV‐Resistant and Thermally Stable Superhydrophobic CeO2 Nanotubes with High Water Adhesion

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 14; no. 27; pp. e1801040 - n/a
• Main Authors: Li, Xue‐Ping, Sun, Ya‐Li, Xu, Yao‐Yi, Chao, Zi‐Sheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 05.07.2018
• Subjects: Adhesion; cerium dioxide nanotubes; Cerium oxides; Contact angle; Contaminants; Durability; Heat treatment; Hydrophobic surfaces; Hydrophobicity; Hydrothermal treatment; Light irradiation; light/heat‐induced reversible adhesion change; long‐term durability; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Organic chemistry; pinning effect; superhydrophobic; Thermal stability; Water drops
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201801040

A novel type of sticky superhydrophobic cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanotube material is prepared by hydrothermal treatment without any chemical modification. A water droplet on the material surface shows a static water contact angle of about 157° but the water droplet is pinned on the material surface even when the material surface is turned upside down. Interestingly, the as‐prepared CeO2 nanotube material displays durable superhydrophobicity and enhanced adhesion to water under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. Importantly, this change in water adhesion can be reversed by heat treatment to restore the original adhesive value of 20 µL. Further, the maximum volume of the water droplet adhered on the material surface of CeO2 nanotubes can be regulated without loss of superhydrophobicity during the heating treatment/UV‐irradiation cycling. Meanwhile, the superhydrophobic CeO2 nanotube material shows remarkable thermal stability even at temperatures as high as 450 °C, long‐term durability in chemical environment, and air‐storage and good resistance to oily contaminant. Finally, the potential application in no‐loss water transportation of this sticky superhydrophobic CeO2 material is demonstrated. The as‐prepared film with the hierarchical structures consisting of microbundles and secondary open‐ended CeO2 nanotubes shows superhydrophobicity and high water adhesion without any chemical modification. The obtained film displays a UV‐durable superhydrophobicity but UV/heat‐induced reversible water adhesion. This film also has good resistance to high temperatures, different pH values, and air‐storage and oily contamination.