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    F.L.A.S.H. The Formation and Characterization of Floating Self-Assembling Super-Hydrophobic Nano-Particle Membranes

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    Sarthak Shivhare
    Zoe Dubrow created floating, self-assembling super-hydrophobic membranes from hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles on water. The membranes were approximately one micron thick with 10-100nm pores. Droplets placed on the membrane rolled off with over 150 degree contact angle and vapor could pass through but liquid water did not. Chemical reactions across the membrane were possible using vapor phases. The membranes were self-repairing and their permeability depended on thickness, demonstrating potential applications for chemical sensing.

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    F.L.A.S.H. The Formation and Characterization of Floating Self-Assembling Super-Hydrophobic Nano-Particle Membranes

    Uploaded by

    Sarthak Shivhare
    70 views1 page
    Zoe Dubrow created floating, self-assembling super-hydrophobic membranes from hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles on water. The membranes were approximately one micron thick with 10-100nm pores. Droplets placed on the membrane rolled off with over 150 degree contact angle and vapor could pass through but liquid water did not. Chemical reactions across the membrane were possible using vapor phases. The membranes were self-repairing and their permeability depended on thickness, demonstrating potential applications for chemical sensing.

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    S0506

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    Zoe Dubrow created floating, self-assembling super-hydrophobic membranes from hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles on water. The membranes were approximately one micron thick with 10-100nm pores. Droplets placed on the membrane rolled off with over 150 degree contact angle and vapor could pass through but liquid water did not. Chemical reactions across the membrane were possible using vapor phases. The membranes were self-repairing and their permeability depended on thickness, demonstrating potential applications for chemical sensing.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    70 views1 page

    F.L.A.S.H. The Formation and Characterization of Floating Self-Assembling Super-Hydrophobic Nano-Particle Membranes

    Uploaded by

    Sarthak Shivhare
    Zoe Dubrow created floating, self-assembling super-hydrophobic membranes from hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles on water. The membranes were approximately one micron thick with 10-100nm pores. Droplets placed on the membrane rolled off with over 150 degree contact angle and vapor could pass through but liquid water did not. Chemical reactions across the membrane were possible using vapor phases. The membranes were self-repairing and their permeability depended on thickness, demonstrating potential applications for chemical sensing.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 1

    CALIFORNIA STATE SCIENCE FAIR

    2009 PROJECT SUMMARY

    Name(s) Project Number


    Zoe E. Dubrow
    S0506
    Project Title
    F.L.A.S.H.; The Formation and Characterization of Floating
    Self-Assembling Super-hydrophobic Nano-particle Membranes
    Abstract
    Objectives/Goals
    While working on traditional super-hydrophobic surfaces, a method to create self-assembling membranes
    on the surface of water from hydrophobic fumed silica nano-particles was discovered. The purpose of this
    project was to characterize the properties of the membranes and determine possible applications.
    Methods/Materials
    Properties of the membranes such as permeability, porosity, contact angle, inhibition of evaporation as
    well as vapor phase reactions across the membrane were investigated.
    Results
    It was discovered that when hydrophobic fumed silica nano-particles are vigorously agitated in water,
    they self-assemble at the air/water interface. The monolithic membrane that forms was determined to be
    approximately one micron in thickness and had pores of 10-100nm in diameter. When a drop of water is
    placed on the silica membrane, it exhibits a contact angle above 150 degrees and rolls. There is no liquid
    water diffusion between drops on the surface of the membrane and the water below it. The vapor
    permeability of the membranes were determined and found to be dependent on thickness. Vapor phase
    chemical reactions were performed between the underlying aqueous layer and drops on the surface.
    Conclusions/Discussion
    A method for the creation of ultra-thin floating super-hydrophobic membranes through the agitation of
    hydrophobic fumed silica particles in water was discovered. Super-hydrophobic membranes formed using
    this method are self-assembling and self-repairing requiring no organic binders or special chemistry. The
    membrane reduced the evaporation rate of water only about 10% when floating on its surface. Liquid
    water does not migrate through the membrane despite its thin low density structure. It was demonstrated
    that vapor phase chemical reactions can take place between a drop on the surface of the membrane and the
    underlying liquid poolThe membranes have enough structural integrity to support a 5mm polystyrene ball
    and can be removed from the water surface with a glass slide intact.
    Applications of these membranes for chemical sensing are also discussed.

    Summary Statement
    Vapor permeable, super-hydrophobic, monolithic membranes were created in-situ on the surface of water
    by the self-assembly of hydrophobic silica nano-particles and properties of the membranes were
    investigated for use in applications.

    Help Received
    Jay Goldman operated the scanning electron microscope and gave his opinion on the membranes; Bob
    Dubrow gave valuable advice; Nanosys Inc., Palo Alto Ca., for allowed use of their laboratories and
    equipment.

    Ap2/09

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