Biomimetic construction of three-dimensional superhydrophobic microfiber nonwoven fabric

A fundamental challenge in two-dimensional artificial superhydrophobic surfaces is their poor resistance to mechanical abrasion, which limits their industrial application in different fields. Herein, a robust self-similar three-dimension superhydrophobic microfiber non-woven fabric (SSMF) was successfully fabricated via a facile method by combining the nylon nanofibers and silica nanoparticles through adhesive fluorinated waterborne polyurethane, and their 3D superhydrophobic characteristics were investigated in detail. Due to the self similar hierarchical structure, the resultant fabric exhibits three-dimensional superhydrophobic properties with a water contact angle of about 153.5 degrees both on the surface and in the interior. Moreover, this outstanding water repellency is well-maintained even after various severe physical and chemical treatments, such as mechanical abrasion (2100 times), splitting, knife scraping, highly corrosive liquid (pH = 1 and pH = 14), organic solvent immersion, and UV-irradiation.

Automated summary

A self-similar three-dimensional superhydrophobic microfiber non-woven fabric was successfully fabricated, exhibiting excellent superhydrophobic properties in both surface and interior with a high water contact angle of about 153.5 degrees. The fabric maintained outstanding water repellency even after severe physical and chemical treatments such as mechanical abrasion, slicing, knife scraping, exposure to highly corrosive liquids, organic solvent immersion, and UV-irradiation.