# US 9,040,145 B2 · Polymer having superhydrophobic surface

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- Number: US 9,040,145 B2
- Document ID: US9040145B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/796,908
- Filed: 2013-03-12
- Published: 2013-09-26
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-02-28
- Assignees: Research Foundation of the City University of New York
- Applicants: Research Foundation of the City University of New York
- Inventors: Alan Michael Lyons; QianFeng Xu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040145B2

## CPC

- B05D 5/00: Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces to obtain special surface effects, finishes or structures
- B08B 17/065: {the surface having a microscopic surface pattern to achieve the same effect as a lotus flower}
- B29C 59/025: {Fibrous surfaces with piles or similar fibres substantially perpendicular to the surface}
- B32B 3/30: characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. {hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs (apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26)}
- B32B 5/16: characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder {or granules (layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02)}
- B32B 27/04: as impregnant, bonding, or embedding substance {(not used)}
- B32B 37/15: with at least one layer being manufactured and immediately laminated before reaching its stable state, e.g. in which a layer is extruded and laminated while in semi-molten state
- C08J 7/054: Forming anti-misting or drip-proofing coatings
- C08J 7/06: with compositions not containing macromolecular substances
- B05D 2201/02: Polymeric substrate
- B29C 2059/023: {Microembossing}
- B29C 2059/028: {Incorporating particles by impact in the surface, e.g. using fluid jets or explosive forces to implant particles}
- B29K 2995/0093: hydrophobic
- B32B 2037/243: {Coating}
- B32B 2307/73: Hydrophobic
- B32B 2309/105: Thickness
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
- C08J 2323/06: Polyethene
- Y10T 428/24355: Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
- Y10T 428/24372: Particulate matter
- Y10T 428/24413: Metal or metal compound
- Y10T 428/24421: Silicon containing
- B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The disclosure relates to a superhydrophobic surface. Methods of fabrication are disclosed including laminating a polymer sheet having a surface to a template having a textured surface or a layer of a nanomaterial (e.g., nanoparticles or nanofibers) to convert the surface of the polymer sheet to a hydrophobic surface having a water contact angle of at least about 150°.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An article comprising: a hydrophobic polymer surface with a water contact angle of at least about 150°; and a plurality of metal oxide nanoparticles disposed on the hydrophobic surface, at least some of the metal oxide nanoparticles being partially embedded in the hydrophobic polymer surface and partially exposed on the hydrophobic polymer surface, wherein the hydrophobic polymer surface is comprised of multi-level hierarchical structures formed from agglomerates of the metal oxide nanoparticles, at least some of the metal oxide nanoparticles partially being embedded into polymer filaments that emanate from the hydrophobic polymer surface, where the multi-level hierarchical structures range in size from 20 nanometers to 100 microns.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The article in claim 1 wherein the polymer filaments have a length between 1 to 100 microns.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The article of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic polymer surface comprises a plurality of protrusions on the hydrophobic polymer surface, each protrusion comprising a top surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The article of claim 3, wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises two neighboring protrusions separated by a groove and at least some of the metal oxide nanoparticles are disposed on the groove.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The article of claim 4, wherein the top surface of the plurality of protrusions is substantially free of the metal oxide nanoparticles.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The article of claim 3, wherein the top surface of each protrusion comprises the metal oxide nanoparticles.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The article of claim 3, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles comprise silica nanoparticles.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The article of claim 3, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles comprise photocatalytic nanoparticles and are disposed on the top surface of the protrusions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The article of claim 8, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles and vanadium oxide nanoparticles.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the multi-level hierarchical structures formed by the metal oxide nanoparticles comprise first structures with sizes between 20 nm to 100 nm, second structures with sizes between 100 nm and 300 nm, and third structures with sizes between 300 nm to 3 microns.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The article as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are present as a powder.

### Claim 12

An article comprising: a hydrophobic polymer surface with a water contact angle of at least about 150°; and a plurality of nanoparticles disposed on the hydrophobic polymer surface, at least
some of the nanoparticles being partially embedded in the hydrophobic polymer surface and partially exposed on the hydrophobic polymer surface, wherein the hydrophobic polymer surface is comprised of multi-level hierarchical structures formed from agglomerates of the nanoparticles, at least some of the nanoparticles partially being embedded into polymer filaments that emanate from the hydrophobic polymer surface, where the multi-level hierarchical structures range in height from 20 nanometers to 100 microns, the multi-level hierarchical structures comprising first structures with heights between 20 nm to 100 nm, second structures with heights between 100 nm and 300 nm, and third structures with heights between 300 nm to 3 microns.

### Claim 13

An article comprising: a hydrophobic polymer surface with a plurality of protrusions, each protrusion comprising a top surface and a side wall; a plurality of metal oxide nanoparticles disposed on the hydrophobic polymer surface, at least some of the metal oxide nanoparticles being partially embedded in the hydrophobic polymer surface and partially exposed on the hydrophobic polymer surface, wherein the hydrophobic polymer surface is comprised of multi-level hierarchical structures formed from agglomerates of the metal oxide nanoparticles, at least some of the metal oxide nanoparticles partially being embedded into polymer filaments that emanate from the hydrophobic polymer surface, where the multi-level hierarchical structures range in size from 20 nanometers to 100 microns; and wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises two neighboring protrusions separated by a groove, the two neighboring protrusions being separated by a distance of at least about 5 micrometers and less than about 500 micrometers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The article as recited in claim 13, wherein the two neighboring protrusions extend above the groove by a height of at least about 25 micrometers and less than about 1000 micrometers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The article as recited in claim 13, wherein the two neighboring protrusions each have a width of at least about 2 micrometers and less than about 500 micrometers.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The article as recited in claim 13, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are disposed on the top surface but the groove is substantially free of the nanoparticles.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The article as recited in claim 13, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are disposed on both the top surface and the groove.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The article as recited in claim 13, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are first nanoparticles that are disposed on the groove, the article further comprising second nanoparticles that are disposed on the top surface, the first nanoparticles and the second nanoparticles having different compositions.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The article as recited in claim 18, wherein the two neighboring protrusions each have a width of at least about 2micrometers and less than about 500 micrometers.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The article as recited in claim 13, wherein the plurality of protrusions comprises two neighboring protrusions separated by a groove and at least some of the nanoparticles are disposed on the groove and the top surface of the plurality of protrusions is substantially free of the metal oxide nanoparticles.