Synthesis of Bio-Inspired Self-cleaning Hydrophobic Surfaces Using ZnO Nanoparticles

The emerging advances in biomimetic unique wettability, such as the self-cleaning lotus effect, creepy crawlies, flower petals, mosquito eyes, and gecko feet, among others have sparked a lot of interest recently. These superhydrophobic surfaces can be fabricated and developed by a facile coating of various metal oxide nanoparticles such as ZnO, TiO2, and SiO2 onto different substrates via a Sol-Gel method which is a convenient low-temperature technique to synthesize nanoparticles. This will improve the surface roughness and lower the contact angles resulting in the hydrophobic nature of the coated surfaces. This study focuses on creating superhydrophobic surfaces using Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and characterizing them using various analytical techniques such as FT-IR, UV-visible spectrophotometry, XRD and nanoparticle size analysis. ZnO is chosen for its abundance, affordability, and safety in preparation. These ZnO nanoparticles are rendered superhydrophobic by incorporating Stearic Acid. The resulting Zinc Stearate nanoparticles are then tested on cotton fabric to assess their hydrophobic properties, demonstrating effective repulsion of water with the contact angle (CA) increased from 61.2° on the uncoated surface to 134.2° for the Zinc stearate coated fabric, confirming the excellent superhydrophobicity. If applied in the medical field, such as surgical instruments, hospital surfaces, and medical implants, this technology could significantly reduce the risk of infections and contamination. By integrating this approach into healthcare practices, we can improve patient safety, uphold higher standards of hygiene, and ultimately enhance healthcare outcomes and public health overall.