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Wettability of porous two‐dimensional ZnO nanocrystal films
Author(s) -
Shi D.,
Wang X. C.,
Yao Z. W.,
Liu F.,
Zhang X. B.,
Cheng J. P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.20492
Subject(s) - contact angle , materials science , wetting , nanocrystal , lamellar structure , porosity , substrate (aquarium) , chemical engineering , hydrothermal circulation , zinc , nanotechnology , morphology (biology) , aluminium , composite material , metallurgy , oceanography , biology , engineering , genetics , geology
Abstract Large‐scale two‐dimensional ZnO nanocrystal films on aluminum substrate were fabricated by a one‐step hydrothermal method under mild conditions, where all the ZnO nanocrystals had a lamellar structure generally perpendicular to the substrates and formed network‐like porous configurations. The morphologies of the films were dependent on both the reaction temperature and concentration of zinc. The wettability of the ZnO films was assessed by measuring the water contact angle without any surface functionalisation. The porous structures of the as‐prepared films could effectively enhance its hydrophobicity and the water contact angle ranged from 40° to 135° depending on the surface morphology and the arrangement of ZnO planes, indicating a simple and promising route to make aluminum surface waterproof and even self‐cleaning. The hydrophobic ZnO surface could be switched to hydrophilic state by UV irradiation.