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E u r o S c i C o n C o n f e r e n c e o n
Nanotechnology &
Smart Materials
Nano Research & Applications
ISSN 2471-9838
O c t o b e r 0 4 - 0 6 , 2 0 1 8
Am s t e r d a m , N e t h e r l a n d s
Nanotechnology & Smart Materials 2018
Page 44
B
iological surfaces create the enigmatical reality to be contributed to learning
of human beings. They run cooperate between of endlessly arranged various-
style gradient micro- and nanostructures (MN) that greatly provide with excellent
functions via natural evolvement. Such biological surfaces with multi-gradient
micro- and nanostructures display unique wetting functions in nature, which have
inspired researchers to design originality of materials for promising future. In
nature, a combination of multiple gradients in a periodic spindle-knot structure
take on surface of spider silk after wet-rebuilding process in mist. This structure
drives tiny water droplets directionally toward the spindle-knots for highly efficient
water collection. Inspired by the roles of gradient MNs in the water collecting
ability of spider silk, a series of functional fibers with unique wettability has been
designed by various improved techniques such as dip-coating, fluid-coating, to
combine the Rayleigh instability theory. The geometrically-engineered thin fibers
display a strongwater capturing ability than previously thought. The bead-on-string
heterostructured fibers are capable of intelligently responding to environmental
changes in humidity. Also a long-range gradient-step spindle-knotted fiber can
be driven droplet directionally in a long range. An electrospun fiber at micro-
level can be fabricated by the self-assembly wet-rebuilt process, thus the fiber
displays strong hanging-droplet ability. The temperature or photo or roughness-
responsive fibers can achieve a controlling on droplet driving in directions, which
contribute to water collection in efficiency. Besides, inspired by gradient effects
on butterfly wing and lotus leaves, the surfaces with ratchet MN, flexible lotus-like
MN are fabricated successfully by improved methods, which demonstrate that the
gradient MN effect rises up distinctly anti-icing, ice-phobic and de-ice abilities.
These multifunctional materials can be designed and fabricated for promising
applications such as water-collecting, anti-icing, anti-frosting, or anti-fogging
properties for practical applications in aerospace, industry and so on.
Biography
Yongmei Zheng (PhD) is currently serving as a Professor at
School of Chemistry, Beihang University. Her research interests
are focused on bioinspired surfaces with gradient micro- and
nanostructures to control dynamic wettability and develop the
surfaces with characteristics of water repellency, anti-icing,
anti-frosting or fog-harvesting, tiny droplet transport, water
collection and so on. She has published more than 90 SCI
papers in journals including Nature,
Adv Mater, Angew Chem Int
Ed, ACS Nano, Adv Funct Mater
, etc., with 12 cover stories and a
book entitiled as “
Bioinspired Wettability Surfaces: development
in Micro- and Nanostructures
” by Pan Standard Publishing,
USA. Her work as a Scientist was highlighted on News of
Royal Society of Chemistry, Chemistry World in 2014. She is a
Member of Chinese Society of Composite Materials (CSCM),
Chinese Chemistry Society (CCS), American Chemistry Society
(ACS), International Society of Bionic Engineering (ISBE), and
International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM). She
won an ISBE outstanding contribution award in 2016, by ISBE
and an IAAMMedal in 2016, by IAAM in Sweden.
zhengym@buaa.edu.cnBioinspired wettability surfaces:
development in micro- and nanostructures
Yongmei Zheng
Beihang University (BUAA), P R China
Yongmei Zheng, Nano Res Appl Volume:4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-9838-C6-023