Nanoscale Coating That Can Repel Almost Any Liquid

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN, USA. Researchers were able to develop a new type of coating that repelled 98 out of 100 different kinds of liquid poured onto it. They also recently announced this development through a paper they published (Journal of the American Chemical Society).

They were able to try almost all kinds of liquids ranging from coffee and soy sauce to gasoline and sulfuric acid and all of it just bounced off without even wetting the treated surface. The process in creating the new coating is called electrospinning. This method involves the process where electricity produces solid particles out of a liquid solution.

This superomniphobic coating is made up of small spherical plastic particles which are called PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane). It is then mixed together with other nanoscale cubes which are originally created by the US Air Force. After the electrospinning process, the coating then forms microscopic cross-links that are similar to a mesh web.

More than 90% of the coating is actually made up of air which means any liquid that gets in touch with the coating won’t really be able to touch the treated surface at all. That way, the liquid won’t even get a chance to sit on the actual surface so soaking in it is impossible.

The research team is headed by doctoral student Shuaijun Pan, together with postdoctoral researcher Arun Kota. They are both from the materials science and engineering department of the University of Michigan. The project is funded by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Right now, they are looking forward to using the coating to create stain-resistant garments, as well as highly-waterproof paints. They are also aiming to use it for hazardous material suits to reduce the risks that are entailed with its use.