NanoNails
27 December 2007, 23:18
Categories: self-cleaning superhydrophobicphilic
A new type of non-stick material that can repel fluids—and can be turned on or off simply by flipping an electrical switch—has been reported by Bell Labs and Lucent Tech researchers in the US. The material, named “nanonails,” offers a wide-range of potential applications including contamination-resistant and self-cleaning surfaces, reduced-drag ships, and advanced electrical batteries.
The nails have all-purpose repellency properties and are actually submicroscopic silicon structures, shaped like carpenter’s nails, that dramatically enhance a surface’s repellency. However, a surface will become highly wettable when electricity is applied, allowing liquid to be sucked between the nails. In laboratory demonstrations, the researchers showed that their electronic non-stick surface works effectively using virtually any liquid.
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Posted by: The Editors
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