Articles tagged with Hydrophobicity
Researchers discovered that natural leaf coatings on hydrochar can act as a protective surface layer, improving its ability to retain carbon in soil. The coating strengthens hydrochar stability, promoting its capacity for soil carbon sequestration.
Researchers have engineered a moderately hydrophobic polymer protective layer that resolves the challenges of zinc anodes in rechargeable zinc-ion batteries. The PDMAG layer enables vertical aligned, thick, and highly ordered Zn facets, suppressing dendrite growth and facilitating Zn utilization.
Researchers at NIMS have discovered a phenomenon where droplets on a single solid surface exhibit both 'sticky' and 'repellent' states simultaneously. By controlling the number of hydrogen bonds between the solid surface and oil, they can create a universal surface design principle that causes this phenomenon.
A team of researchers from Chiba University discovered the structural evolution of poloxamer mixtures at different temperatures, enabling customized gelation behavior. Their findings support precise design of sustained-release formulations for localized therapies, enhancing drug retention and minimizing side effects.
Researchers have developed a novel pesticide delivery system using Liquid Marbles (LMs) that can enhance droplet deposition on plant surfaces. The LMs, coated with biodegradable hydrophobic particles, follow a unique mode of deposition that increases wettability and reduces waste, up to 50%.
Researchers developed a new copper IUD with laser-engraved microstructure patterns inspired by the golden pothos plant, which reduces corrosion and releases fewer copper ions. The device is more hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant, causing less cell death and increasing cell viability.
Researchers developed an all-flexible, self-cleaning smart window that fine-tunes solar gain in real time and protects against environmental contaminants. The device's multifunctionality could accelerate green building development and address climate change concerns.
Researchers have developed a multifunctional aerogel for efficient crude oil cleanup, exhibiting high compressive strength, hydrophobicity, and photothermal conversion. The aerogel's unique structure enables rapid absorption of viscous crude oil, addressing environmental concerns related to increasing oil spills.
Researchers at Curtin University have developed a new technique to make glass water-repellent, creating a durable and environmentally friendly surface that can improve safety in vehicles and buildings. The process uses ultrasound to trigger a chemical reaction, forming a stable organic layer on the glass surface.
Researchers developed a novel coating material that captures the brilliance of structural colors using melanin particles, producing non-iridescent color even when viewed from different angles. The coatings displayed a contact angle of over 160 degrees, monochromatic hues, and a self-cleaning surface.
A team of researchers has developed Janus crystals that capture humidity from the air with high efficiency, enabling a spontaneous and energy-free process for collecting potable water. The discovery could provide an endless source of clean water, addressing global water scarcity issues.
Researchers created a new electrode design that increases the efficiency of converting CO2 into ethylene, a valuable chemical product. The electrochemical system can now be scaled up for industrial applications without significant energy or cost losses.
Researchers developed a sustainable, high-performance material suitable for packaging and biomedical devices by exploiting the mechanical properties of cellulose nanofibres. Adding small peptides improves their mechanical performance and water-resistance.
Researchers developed a simple, repeatable printing technique to create periodic nano/microstructures on glass substrates with useful functions like water-repellency and structural colors. The technique enables fabricating materials without expensive equipment and complex processes, paving the way for innovative gas sensors.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science have developed a new type of micelle that can effectively dissolve dyes, paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective formulations. The micelles were created using block copolymers and showed improved dye solubilization capacity compared to random copolymers.
A new type of mussel-inspired adhesive has been developed that can be deactivated 'on command' through oxidation, allowing for efficient repair and recycling. The biobased adhesive loses its stickiness without becoming dramatically hydrophobic, making it easier to remove.
Researchers at Binghamton University discovered that water anoles produce a special bubble over their nostrils to breathe underwater and evade predators. The study found that the bubble serves a functional role in respiration, allowing lizards to stay submerged for longer periods.
A team of scientists from Indian Institute of Science developed a surfactant from cashew nut shell liquid to catalyse industrially relevant reactions in water, leading to 80% higher product yields and replacing expensive catalysts. The study uses micellar catalysis to mimic biological systems.
Researchers have developed a method to deliver drugs to specific areas of the body using ultrasound waves, triggering drug release from stable nanocarriers. The approach is made both safe and efficient for the first time, paving the way for clinical trials.
A groundbreaking study reveals zwitterionic polymers can inhibit protein aggregation, a key mechanism behind various human diseases. The researchers found that hydrophobicity and molecular weight impact protein stabilization, offering new avenues for therapeutic strategies.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed alkyl-aromatic hybrid micelles that exhibit high stability in water and excellent host functions towards aromatic guests. The new amphiphiles feature a linear alkyl-chain flanked by two aromatic panels, forming an alkyl core surrounded by an aromatic shell.
This study investigates the cononsolvency mechanism of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in aqueous methanol solutions. PNIPAM forms rounded structures in pure water but chain structures in pure methanol, leading to hydrophobic hydration and aggregation in aqueous methanol solutions.
Researchers at CDMF and CINE developed a novel plasma treatment approach for antimony tri-selenide films, making them hydrophilic and improving their photoelectroactivity. This enhancement enables the material to produce hydrogen gas through solar-driven water splitting.
Researchers discovered that adding water-resistant materials to an electrode can dramatically speed up chemical reactions in water, known as 'fouling'. This process can increase reaction rates up to six times faster than traditional methods. By leveraging this method, the chemical industry may be able to reduce its reliance on fossil f...
The team developed a 'catch-and-release' mechanism to oxidize hydrophobic compounds, selectively and efficiently producing hydrophilic products under mild conditions. This breakthrough enables the selective two-electron oxidation of anthracene and aromatic compounds from mixtures, solving a long-standing challenge.
A research team developed a new mechanism to make water droplets slip off surfaces, creating the slipperiest liquid surface in the world. The discovery challenges existing ideas about friction between solid surfaces and water, opening up new avenues for studying droplet slipperiness.
A team of researchers has developed a stable, long-lasting superhydrophobic surface with a plastron that can last for months underwater. The surface repels blood and prevents the adhesion of marine organisms, making it valuable for biomedical applications such as reducing infection after surgery.
A ferrocene-based capsule with unusual charge-transfer interactions has been synthesized, allowing for reversible encapsulation and release of guest molecules. The capsule can bind to a variety of organic and inorganic dyes and electron-accepting molecules, demonstrating its potential applications in medicine, biotechnology, and chemic...
Researchers create a nanocapsulation strategy to solubilize insoluble aromatic polymers in water, enhancing their processing and development. The approach uses bent aromatic amphiphiles to form micelle-like nanocapsules that encapsulate hydrophobic molecules.
Scientists develop a method to construct crystalline artificial steric zippers in peptide β-sheets, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies and materials. The research utilizes metal ions to prevent aggregation and form needle-shaped crystals with specific structural characteristics.
Scientists have found that mixtures of polymers can form phase-separated droplets, similar to lava lamps, which interact with cell membranes in unexpected ways. These interactions affect the exterior structure of cells, creating a mosaic of droplets and signaling to the outside.
Researchers have developed a new approach to treating tumors using 'self-immolative' polyferrocenes that trigger a fatal cycle of oxidative stress in cancer cells. In experiments, these copolymers inhibited tumor growth with negligible side effects, offering potential for chemodynamic therapy.
Researchers have developed a mononuclear iron complex that selectively and efficiently converts methane to methanol under mild conditions. The catalyst achieves high efficiency and selectivity due to a hydrophobic environment near the active iron center, trapping methane and releasing methanol.
A Washington State University-led study found that adding too much water to whisky (about 20%) can change its smell and taste, making them indistinguishable from each other. The researchers also discovered that different types of whiskies respond differently to dilution.
Developed by University of Georgia researchers, the superfoam conducts electricity, cleans polluted water, and resists blood, microbes, and proteins. Its versatility makes it a valuable resource for clinicians and environmental remediation professionals.
Researchers developed a simple purification method using surfactants to separate hydrophobic DNA nanostructures from aggregates, enabling the construction of artificial cells and complex functions in molecular robots. The purified structures retain their ability to bind lipid vesicle surfaces.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a sustainable method for creating high-performance porous membranes from plastic waste, using bio-based solvents to dissolve polyolefins. This process reduces the environmental footprint of industrial separations and creates access to fresh water.
A new solar distillation device, developed by KAUST professors and researchers, can purify brine from seawater with high efficiency. The device produces double the freshwater production rate of existing technology, meeting the drinking needs of two people daily.
Researchers developed hydrophilic slipper surfaces that are both extremely slippery and water-attracting, countering conventional wisdom. These SLIC surfaces have potential applications in biomedical technologies and condensers, where they offer anti-fouling properties and improved efficiency.
Researchers at Tufts University have created silk-based materials with exceptional water-repelling properties, surpassing those of current nonstick coatings. The modified silk can be molded into various shapes and forms, making it suitable for a wide range of consumer products and medical applications.
Researchers from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology developed a method to control active layer morphology in organic solar cells using water treatment. This approach led to more uniform thin films and higher power conversion efficiencies compared to non-treated samples. The study paves the way for large-scale, efficient organi...
Rice University researchers create a technique to make surfaces superhydrophobic by combining sanding with powder materials, resulting in water-repelling properties. The treatment also exhibits excellent anti-icing properties, slowing down freezing and reducing ice adhesion strength.
A research group developed a novel antifouling nanofiltration membrane by regulating pore size distribution through one-step multiple interfacial polymerization. The resulting membrane exhibits stronger antifouling performance and long-term stability, promising improved robustness in industrial liquid separation.
A promising solution to improve surface hydrophobicity of hydrophobic membrane was found by preparing PVDF-HFP copolymer membrane via thermally induced phase separation. The resulting membranes showed high hydrophobicity, stability, and desalination performance.
Researchers successfully measured the wettability of graphene and other 2D materials using VSFG, a surface-selective tool that connects macroscopic and molecular-level properties. The study found that graphene's 'wetting transparency' diminishes with increasing layers, becoming hydrophobic at a certain point.
Researchers discovered that honeybee tongue hairs are hydrophobic, allowing the tongue to bend and reach food in crevices. This unique property enhances durability and flexibility, inspiring design of new materials.
Researchers at TTUHSC developed novel hydrophilic nanoparticles that target bacterial membranes, killing pathogens while sparing mammalian cells. The nanoantibiotics' size-dependent activity reveals a new blueprint for developing non-toxic and environmentally friendly antibiotics.
A team of engineers found that thermal conduction is the most prominent form of heat transfer during droplet impact on smooth surfaces, influencing cooling efficiency and droplet behavior. Heat conduction also affects droplet dynamics on rough surfaces, leading to lower heat transfer rates.
The study found that plate wettability had no impact on the performance of anti-icing fluids, contradicting previous research. Smooth hydrophobic coatings were shown to prevent ice accretion and reduce water adhesion.
Liquid marbles' unique hydrophobic outer layer allows for faster evaporation than bare water droplets due to particle-particle and liquid-particle interactions. The team's mathematical model accurately predicts evaporation behavior, providing insights into these tiny biological structures.
A new study by Okayama University scientists shows that proteins' hydrophobic parts do not repel water as previously thought. The researchers used computational methods to find that the van der Waals force between hydrophobic parts stabilizes the unfolded structure, leading to folding.
A triphase air-liquid-solid photocatalytic system with a hydrophobic surface improves CO2 reduction efficiency by 8.8 times compared to water environments, thanks to enhanced CO2 transport and adsorption capabilities.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have created a simple and additive-free method to synthesize water-stable amphiphilic molecules. The new catalyst- and reagent-free approach uses the Staudinger reaction to form stable azaylide-based amphiphiles that can self-assemble into micelles in water.
Scientists developed a new copper catalyst with sharp needle structures, enhancing CO2 reduction reaction efficiency by mitigating electrolyte flooding and increasing selectivity. The study published in Journal of the American Chemical Society showcases the stability and productivity of the hierarchical Cu electrode.
A team of MIT chemical engineers has developed a new method for incorporating hydrophobic drugs into tablets or other formulations, which allows for higher drug loading and potentially smaller dosages. This could lead to improved patient compliance and effectiveness, especially for people who have difficulty swallowing pills.
Scientists create hydrobot, a small water droplet manipulated by magnetic beads, for various applications. Hydrobot can move with precision and even stop at random, making it suitable for dust collection and surface cleaning.
Researchers at MIT developed a method to reduce fouling on heat exchanger surfaces by making salts self-eject, using hydrophobic surfaces and heat. The process involves the formation of 'crystal critters' that grow legs and eventually tip over, allowing the salts to be removed easily.
A research team observed hydrogen-bond structure of water molecules on graphene-water interfaces using vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy. They found that as the number of layers increases, graphene becomes increasingly hydrophobic. VSFG spectroscopy provides a detailed picture of interfacial water at the molecular level.
A team of researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum and Sorbonne Université has discovered the significant contribution of small hydrophobic molecules to the energy costs of electrochemical reactions. The study found that these molecules interact with water at interfaces, leading to a crucial role in the chemical reactions.
Computational models predict solute-surface affinity, allowing for more effective membrane design and improved energy efficiency. Researchers discovered that surface water molecular structures play a crucial role in determining affinity.