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How liquids charge the superhydrophobic surfaces

Author

Listed:
  • Yuankai Jin

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    City University of Hong Kong)

  • Siyan Yang

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Mingzi Sun

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Shouwei Gao

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Yaqi Cheng

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Chenyang Wu

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Zhenyu Xu

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Yunting Guo

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Wanghuai Xu

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Xuefeng Gao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Steven Wang

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Bolong Huang

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Zuankai Wang

    (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Abstract

Liquid-solid contact electrification (CE) is essential to diverse applications. Exploiting its full implementation requires an in-depth understanding and fine-grained control of charge carriers (electrons and/or ions) during CE. Here, we decouple the electrons and ions during liquid-solid CE by designing binary superhydrophobic surfaces that eliminate liquid and ion residues on the surfaces and simultaneously enable us to regulate surface properties, namely work function, to control electron transfers. We find the existence of a linear relationship between the work function of superhydrophobic surfaces and the as-generated charges in liquids, implying that liquid-solid CE arises from electron transfer due to the work function difference between two contacting surfaces. We also rule out the possibility of ion transfer during CE occurring on superhydrophobic surfaces by proving the absence of ions on superhydrophobic surfaces after contact with ion-enriched acidic, alkaline, and salt liquids. Our findings stand in contrast to existing liquid-solid CE studies, and the new insights learned offer the potential to explore more applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuankai Jin & Siyan Yang & Mingzi Sun & Shouwei Gao & Yaqi Cheng & Chenyang Wu & Zhenyu Xu & Yunting Guo & Wanghuai Xu & Xuefeng Gao & Steven Wang & Bolong Huang & Zuankai Wang, 2024. "How liquids charge the superhydrophobic surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-49088-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49088-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wanghuai Xu & Huanxi Zheng & Yuan Liu & Xiaofeng Zhou & Chao Zhang & Yuxin Song & Xu Deng & Michael Leung & Zhengbao Yang & Ronald X. Xu & Zhong Lin Wang & Xiao Cheng Zeng & Zuankai Wang, 2020. "A droplet-based electricity generator with high instantaneous power density," Nature, Nature, vol. 578(7795), pages 392-396, February.
    2. Shiquan Lin & Liang Xu & Aurelia Chi Wang & Zhong Lin Wang, 2020. "Quantifying electron-transfer in liquid-solid contact electrification and the formation of electric double-layer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Nenad Miljkovic & Daniel J. Preston & Ryan Enright & Evelyn N. Wang, 2013. "Electrostatic charging of jumping droplets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Mingzi Sun & Qiuyang Lu & Zhong Lin Wang & Bolong Huang, 2021. "Understanding contact electrification at liquid–solid interfaces from surface electronic structure," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Emiliano Poli & Kwang H. Jong & Ali Hassanali, 2020. "Charge transfer as a ubiquitous mechanism in determining the negative charge at hydrophobic interfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
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