Session: Fundamental Research in Colloids, Surfaces and Nanomaterials:

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are beneficial additives in a variety of industrial products, such as paints and coatings, or as a stand-alone product due to their superhydrophobicity, relative ease of synthesis, and low cost of starting materials. The utility of ZnO NPs as a surface coating is enhanced by the uniformity (i.e., thickness and spatial distribution) and dispersant matrix (solvent and surfactant choice) of the nanoparticle deposition layer, which can be carefully controlled using automated printers. Further enhancement can be realized via the generation of a stable dispersion of ZnO NPs. In this study we have developed several methods to obtain stable ZnO NP dispersions in aqueous and organic solvents, and dispersion stability was evaluated using a particle size analyzer and temporal studies. The stable dispersions were then spray coated onto flexible substrates, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets, and other substrates, such as Si wafers, via an automated spray coating instrument. All surfaces were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscop (AFM) to investigate uniformity. Superhydrophobicity of the spray coated surfaces were investigated using contact angle goniometry and optical properties were monitored using integrating sphere FTIR and UV-vis reflectance spectroscopy.

Dr. Payagala Udawattage Ashvin Iresh Fernando

Senior Scientist, Bennett Aerospace

Appearances