InspiringFuture - Bioinspired nanoengineering of robust films: Multifunctional interfaces for enabling a sustainable future

InspiringFuture - 坚固薄膜的仿生纳米工程：实现可持续未来的多功能接口

• 批准号: EP/X023974/1
• 负责人: Manish K. Tiwari
• 金额: $ 219.62万
• 依托单位: University College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX023974%2F1
• 关键词: InspiringFuture; Bioinspired; nanoengineering; robust; films

Scientific breakthroughs into surfaces/interfaces with high overall durability are critical to meet humanity's aspirations for sustainable development. With this context, I seek to undertake fundamental research to nanoengineer new bioinspired liquid-repellent films featuring resistance to sustained high-speed impact, fatigue and continuous flow (shear). My specific objectives are to:1) nanoengineer robust and flexible films with amphiphobicity (i.e. repellence to water and low surface tension liquid) built through thickness2) nanoengineer multi-layered amphiphobic film with mechanical anisotropy and energy dissipative mechanisms for impact/fatigue tolerance3) develop new insights into visco-elasto-plastic failure of the amphiphobic films using electron microscopy integrated nanomechanical tests and exploit them to engineer robust piezocatalytic films 4) perform first high-speed (~350 m/s) liquid/solid particle impact experiments on robust amphiphobic films, demonstrate their anti-icing, anti-scaling and optical transparency potential and to exploit robust piezocatalytic films to introduce continuous flow water remediation for pollution and disease control.The proposed protective nanoengineered films offer a substrate-independent solution for impact/erosion issues that plague transport systems, wind-turbines and offshore installations, and infrastructure exposed to harsh weather. These applications will also benefit from passive anti-icing/scaling potential of our films. With optical transparency, the films may prevent contamination of windows/windshields and handheld devices (e.g. phones/tablets). Furthermore, the piezocatalytic films may be retrofit to industrial/domestic pipes to enable continuous water remediation - this will reduce water waste and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) burden, and potentially save millions of lives/year. Overall, the fellowship will contribute to sustainable development and meeting the European Green Deal targets.

具有高整体耐久性的表面/界面的科学突破对于满足人类可持续发展的愿望至关重要。在此背景下，我寻求进行基础研究，以纳米工程设计新型仿生防水薄膜，该薄膜具有耐持续高速冲击、疲劳和连续流动（剪切）的能力。我的具体目标是：1）通过厚度构建具有双疏性（即排斥水和低表面张力液体）的纳米工程坚固且灵活的薄膜2）具有机械各向异性和耐冲击/疲劳的能量耗散机制的纳米工程多层双疏薄膜3）开发使用电子显微镜集成纳米力学测试对双疏薄膜的粘弹塑性失效的新见解，并利用它们来设计坚固的压电催化薄膜4) 对坚固的双疏薄膜进行首次高速（~350 m/s）液体/固体颗粒冲击实验，展示其防冰、防垢和光学透明潜力，并利用坚固的压电催化薄膜引入连续流水修复所提出的保护性纳米工程薄膜为困扰运输系统、风力涡轮机和海上设施以及暴露在恶劣天气下的基础设施的冲击/侵蚀问题提供了一种独立于基材的解决方案。这些应用还将受益于我们薄膜的被动防冰/结垢潜力。由于具有光学透明度，薄膜可以防止窗户/挡风玻璃和手持设备（例如手机/平板电脑）受到污染。此外，压电催化薄膜可以对工业/家用管道进行改造，以实现连续的水修复——这将减少水的浪费和抗菌素耐药性（AMR）负担，并有可能每年挽救数百万人的生命。总体而言，该奖学金将为可持续发展和实现欧洲绿色协议目标做出贡献。