A stable nanoPAA-ZnO/ZnCl2 composite with variable 3D structured morphology and sustained superhydrophilicity

Zhou, Y; Dang, Y; Wang, K; Zhao, W; Zhang, C; Jiao, Y; Feng, X; Wang, G; Shen, TH

Abstract

A ZnO/ZnCl2 composite with stable 3D structural morphologies and long lasting superhydrophilicity was synthesized on the top surface of a nano porous anodic alumina (nanoPAA) substrate. The wettability of a nanoPAA-ZnO/ZnCl2 was systematically characterized and the experimental data indicated that the water contact angle (WCA) of 0° could be achieved as well as maintained over 7 days and still remained at 4.36° after 50 days, and its 3D structural morphology had no clearly observable change during this period. The mechanism for the superhydrophilicity of the composites was interpreted in terms of the inherent hydrophilicity of ZnO/ZnCl2 nanofilm, the three-dimensional structures of wrinkled nanoflakes, the nanogaps between neighbor nanoflakes, the difference of structual morphologies (i.e., size, shape, and upright posture of nanoflakes), and the measured True Volume of voids in the nanocomposite. The structural morphologies were mainly determined by the parameters such as the original concentration of precursor ZnCl2 and the pore diameter of nanoPAA substrate. The study proposes a promising superhydrophilic nanomaterial and a cost-effective synthesis method, which will play a practical role in the fields of biomedical molecular sensors and micro/nanofluidic chips.

Citation

Zhou, Y., Dang, Y., Wang, K., Zhao, W., Zhang, C., Jiao, Y., …Shen, T. (2021). A stable nanoPAA-ZnO/ZnCl2 composite with variable 3D structured morphology and sustained superhydrophilicity. Langmuir, 37(18), 5457-5463. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03257

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 26, 2021
• Publication Date: May 11, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 28, 2021
• Journal: Langmuir
• Print ISSN: 0743-7463
• Electronic ISSN: 1520-5827
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 18
• Pages: 5457-5463
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03257
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03257
• Related Public URLs: https://pubs.acs.org/journal/langd5
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From Crossref journal articles via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: pissn 0743-7463; eissn 1520-5827 **History: published 11-05-2021; issued 26-04-2021; published_online 26-04-2021; Funders : Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China;Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Department;National Natural Science Foundation of China; Projects : 51927804;2011DFA12220;61378083;61405159;2018TD-018;2016ZDJC-15; Grant Number: 51927804; Grant Number: 2011DFA12220; Grant Number: 61378083; Grant Number: 61405159; Grant Number: 2018TD-018; Grant Number: 2016ZDJC-15