UNS: Spatial Control of Condensate and Wetting Regimes using Heterogeneous and Hierarchical Surface Structures for Enhanced Heat Transfer

CBET-1511453PI：McCarthy，Matthew该项目的目标是开发异质表面结构，并研究在冷凝过程中空间变化的表面润湿性和导热系数对润湿和换热速率的影响。该项目寻求通过保持对液-汽界面的精确控制，并在工程表面上隔离湿区域和非湿区域来提高传热率。因此，该项目的成果可以改进换热系统的设计，提高各种应用的能效，包括电子冷却、海水淡化和水净化以及化学处理。该项目将涉及研究生和本科生，并计划开展外展活动，以吸引当地学生，特别是那些来自代表性不足群体的学生。该项目将结合生物模板纳米制造技术和启动化学气相沉积(ICVD)，以创造具有润湿性和导热性图案化变化的不同表面。生物模板法使用烟草花叶病毒的自组装和金属化来创建一层均匀的高表面积纳米结构。ICVD被用来在纳米结构的表面涂覆一层薄层的低表面能聚合物材料。混合润湿性和混合导电性的组合将提供对冷凝液液滴的空间控制，以加强传热。研究人员将在冷凝和冷凝去除过程中使用共聚焦扫描激光显微镜和高速成像来表征表面的性能和不同结构的影响。研究结果可以指导实践者通过精确控制冷凝水动力学来提高冷凝换热速率。

CBET - 1511453PI: McCarthy, MatthewThe goals of this project are to develop heterogeneous surface structures and investigate effects of spatially varying surface wettability and thermal conductivity on wetting and heat transfer rates during condensation. The project seeks to improve heat transfer rates by maintaining precise control of the liquid-vapor interfaces and segregating wetted and non-wetted regions on engineered surfaces. Thus, results of the project could improve the design of heat transfer systems and increase energy efficiency for a variety of applications, including electronics cooling, desalination and water purification, and chemical processing. The project will involve graduate and undergraduate students, and outreach activities are planned to engage local students, especially those from under-represented groups.The project will combine bio-templated nanofabrication techniques and initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) to create heterogeneous surfaces with patterned variations in wettability and thermal conductivity. The bio-templating process uses self-assembly and metallization of the Tobacco mosaic virus to create a uniform layer of high surface area nanostructures. iCVD is used to coat the nanostructured surfaces with thin layers of low surface energy polymeric materials. The combination of mixed wettability and mixed conductivity will provide spatial control over condensate droplets to enhance heat transfer. The investigators will use confocal scanning laser microscopy and high-speed imaging during condensation and condensate removal to characterize the performance of surfaces and the effects of heterogeneous architectures. Results could guide practitioners in improving condensation heat transfer rates by enabling precise control over condensate dynamics.