Collaborative Research: Condensation and Icing at Superhydrophobic Surfaces

该奖项的研究目标是通过实验和理论方法的协同结合来研究超疏水表面的冷凝，表面润湿转变和冰的形成。超疏水表面具有广泛的应用前景。迄今为止，大多数关于超疏水性的研究都集中在表面拓扑结构对水接触角的影响上，即在几何非均匀表面上捕获宏观气穴。虽然非凡的超疏水表面的防水性可以成功地描述了各种修改的杨？的方程，宏观的方法是不足以描述与超疏水表面的更广泛的应用，包括防雾和/或防冰附属的表面相变。这种更广泛的应用取决于对表面疏水性的更好理解，表面疏水性取决于基底的微观细节和水在不均匀条件下的不同状态。通过汇集互补的专业知识，研究团队将（i）建立一个理论框架来描述超疏水表面的气相沉积，表面润湿转变和冰成核，（ii）开发制造具有系统定制表面形态和化学性质的超疏水表面的实用方案，（iii）使用定制的-设计实验系统。这项研究资助将有助于与不同状态的水接触的超疏水表面的基础知识。该项目将为研究生和本科生，特别是代表性不足的少数民族，提供获得尖端研究第一手经验的机会。学生将特别受益于接触到理论和实验。该研究小组将促进外展到高中，并通过（一）高中课程单元的开发和“可持续性创新”实践科学工作坊在皮特和（ii）数学，工程和科学成就学校计划在加州大学河滨分校的少数民族预科学生接触科学和创新。

The research objective of this award is to study condensation, surface wetting transitions and ice formation at superhydrophobic surfaces through a synergetic combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. Superhydrophobic surfaces are promising for a wide variety of interesting applications. Up to date, most published research on superhydrophobicity is focused on the effects of surface topology on water contact angle by trapping macroscopic air pockets at geometrically heterogeneous surfaces. While the extraordinary water repellency of a superhydrophobic surface can be successfully described by various modifications of Young?s equations, the macroscopic approach is insufficient to describe surface phase transitions affiliated with broader applications of superhydrophobic surfaces including anti-fogging and/or anti-icing. Such broader applications hinge on a better understanding of the surface hydrophobicity that depends on the microscopic details of the substrate and different states of water at inhomogeneous conditions. By bringing together complementary expertise, the research team will (i) establish a theoretical framework to describe vapor deposition, surface wetting transition and ice nucleation at superhydrophobic surfaces, (ii) develop practical schemes for fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces with systematically tailored surface morphologies and chemical properties, (iii) conduct real-time study of condensation and icing on superhydrophobic surfaces using custom-designed experimental systems.This research grant will contribute to the fundamental knowledge base of superhydrophobic surfaces in contact with different states of water. The project will provide graduate and undergraduate students, particularly the underrepresented minorities, with opportunities to get first-hand experience on cutting-edge research. The students will particularly benefit from exposure to both theory and experiments. The research team will promote outreach to high school and exposure of underrepresented minority pre-college students to science and innovations through (i) development of high-school course unit and "Sustainability Innovation" hands-on science workshops at Pitt and (ii) the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement Schools Program at UCR.