Development of Sustainable Superhydrophobic Surfaces for Water Manipulation

Abstract

The thesis focuses on developing sustainable superwettable surface systems for efficient water harvesting and manipulation. Inspired by nature, we developed superhydrophobic surfaces with adjustable hydrophilicity via self-assembly of CNC stabilized Pickering emulsions. These surfaces exhibited outstanding water harvesting performance, and we investigated their applications in continuous water harvesting systems. Additionally, we studied the unique switchable wettability and adhesion properties of smart surfaces that were constructed by pollen particles, triggered by external stimuli, such as temperature. By leveraging these properties, we demonstrated their potential for precise control over water droplet behavior and efficient water transport in solar-driven evaporation systems.