Hydrophobic coatings are water-resistant and can be used to condense steam for efficient heat-transfer. Certain applications require ultra-thin coating, which the current...
Hydrophobic coatings are water-resistant and can be used to condense steam for efficient heat-transfer. Certain applications require ultra-thin coating, which the current coats are prone to delamination upon surface damage.
In a collaborative effort between the Evans and Miljkovic lab, a new ultra-thin hydrophobic coating has been developed. This coating can be easily applied to existing materials to protect surfaces against water damage. Unlike previous coatings, this invention is capable of self-heal, thus enhancing its durability and lifetime.
Pictured below: top row is previous coatings, bottom row is this invention.
Inventors from the University of Illinois have developed a method to form thin film depositions from a variety of sources, using Vacuum UV light.
This low temperature method is fast and allows for a low defect and uniform film deposition on almost any surface. Moreover it is capable of forming films from vapor, solid and liquid precursors.
Applications include mioelectronics, optoelectronics, semiconductor surface and metals passivation, coating of materials with low melting point, dielectric materials, and potentially hydraulic rams to prevent oxidation of materials.
Heat waves can have profound negative impacts on human morbidity and mortality, both directly (e.g., heatstroke) and by exacerbating existing health conditions....
Heat waves can have profound negative impacts on human morbidity and mortality, both directly (e.g., heatstroke) and by exacerbating existing health conditions. The most obvious way to avoid these heat-related stresses--avoiding physical exertion and staying in an air-conditioned space--is not realistic for many whose occupations require exposure to hot weather. Rising energy and home improvement (e.g., to better insulate a dwelling or to repair/replace an HVAC unit) costs make escaping the heat even more difficult for lower-income people. A low-cost solution is needed to help people better adapt to hot weather without relying on energy-intensive cooling infrastructure.
Researchers have developed a thermally adaptive smart textile (TAST) which enables passive outdoor radiative cooling by 6-10 degrees Celsius compared to normal fabrics, while maintaining good mechanical strength, breathability and washability. Succinctly, TAST is a fabric that can be used to make clothes that keep the wearer cooler while requiring NO energy inputs. TAST can not only detect changes in physiological signals in the human body but can adapt its thermoregulation function in response to changes in the ambient temperature and perspiration level. TAST does not require electrical wiring or external energy input. The researchers have also invented a scalable manufacturing platform for further exploration of multifunctional fibers such as TAST that can offer a new paradigm for the advancement of smart wearables.
Benefits
Passive cooling (no energy inputs required)
Durable
Made from low-cost materials
Scalable manufacturing
Applications
Fabric
Clothing
Personal cooling
Publication
Radiative Cooling Smart Textiles with Integrated Sensing for Adaptive Thermoregulation.Yoon Young Choi, Kai Zhou, Ho Kun Woo, Diya Patel, Md Salauddin, and Lili Cai. ACS Materials Letters 2024 6 (10), 4624-4631 DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.4c01624
Heat management technologies have been integrated into fabrics and textiles for decades, dating back at least to NASA's use of reflective aluminum-coated nylon to keep...
Heat management technologies have been integrated into fabrics and textiles for decades, dating back at least to NASA's use of reflective aluminum-coated nylon to keep astronauts warm in their spacesuits. This material, however, and the various analogues that have been introduced to date, feature limited optical and aesthetic variability: all have incorporated a telltale shiny metallic surface that reflects not only the infrared wavelengths relevant to heat management, but optical wavelengths as well. This limitation is an unwelcome constraint in the apparal industry, where aesthetic control is paramount, and is even more problematic for applications that include both visual and thermal shielding (e.g., camouflage).
Researchers have developed a visibly transparent, IR-reflective coating suitable for application to textiles. This coating allows for passive heat (IR) management in two modes: (1) cooling, by reflecting heat away from an object/wearer when the coating is oriented toward the environment; and, (2) heat retention, by reflecting heat back toward an object/wearer when the coating is oriented toward the object/wearer. The optical transparency of this metallic, nanostructured layer confers unprecedented flexibility in the aesthetic and useful visual properties (e.g., fluorescent safety colors, camouflage colors/patterns) of materials.
Benefits
Visibly transparent
Passive operation (no energy input required)
Made from low-cost materials
Durable
Reversible, allowing for both heating and cooling functions
Applications
High-performance, reversible clothing
IR-resistant, camouflaged tarpaulins for military equipment and facilities
