Fabrication of Flexible and Superhydrophobic Melamine Sponge with Aligned Copper Nanoparticle Coating for Self-Cleaning and Dual Thermal Management Properties

In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) flexible copper coated melamine sponge (Cu-MES) with super-hydrophobic properties capable of active heating and infrared insulation is fabricated via deposition of copper nanoparticles on the MES surfaces for personal thermal management applications. The results showed that the Cu nanoparticles were tightly anchored on the surface of the melamine sponge, forming a low infrared emissivity coating, resulting in high thermal insulation properties of the multifunctional Cu-MES. The promising electrical conductivity grants the superior Joule heating for extra warmth of 40 degrees C using a low supply voltage around 7 V. Besides, obtained Cu-MES material shows a self-cleaning property with a stable water contact angle of 157.5 degrees and a sliding angle of 15 degrees. These promising results including low infrared emissivity for high thermal insulation and high conductivity for heat collection make the Cu-MES promising candidates for applications in personal thermal management, energy regulation, and other facilities.