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凝结、表面润湿转变和超疏水表面的冰形成。超疏水表面具有广泛的应用前景。到目前为止，已发表的关于超疏水性的研究大多集中在表面拓扑结构对水接触角的影响上，即在几何非均质表面捕获宏观气囊。虽然可以通过对Young？S方程的各种修改成功地描述超疏水表面的超强憎水能力，但宏观方法不足以描述与超疏水表面的更广泛应用相关的表面相变，包括防雾和/或防冰。这种更广泛的应用取决于对表面疏水性的更好理解，而表面疏水性取决于基质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，研究小组将(I)建立描述超疏水表面的气相沉积、表面润湿转变和冰核的理论框架，(Ii)开发制造具有系统定制的表面形貌和化学性质的超疏水表面的实用方案，(Iii)利用定制的实验系统对超疏水表面上的冷凝和结冰进行实时研究。这项研究拨款将有助于建立与不同状态的水接触的超疏水表面的基本知识库。该项目将为研究生和本科生，特别是代表人数不足的少数族裔提供机会，获得有关尖端研究的第一手经验。学生将特别受益于接触理论和实验。研究小组将通过(I)在皮特大学开发高中课程单元和“可持续创新”实践科学研讨会，以及(Ii)加州大学伯克利分校的数学、工程和科学成就学校计划，促进与高中的接触，并让人数较少的少数族裔大学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.