Ultra-resilient multi-layer fluorinated diamond like carbon hydrophobic surfaces

Muhammad Jahidul Hoque, Longnan Li, Jingcheng Ma, Hyeongyun Cha, Soumyadip Sett, Xiao Yan, Kazi Fazle Rabbi, Jin Yao Ho, Siavash Khodakarami, Jason Suwala, Wentao Yang, Omid Mohammadmoradi, Gozde Ozaydin Ince and Nenad Miljkovic ()
Additional contact information
Muhammad Jahidul Hoque: University of Illinois
Longnan Li: University of Illinois
Jingcheng Ma: University of Illinois
Hyeongyun Cha: University of Illinois
Soumyadip Sett: University of Illinois
Xiao Yan: University of Illinois
Kazi Fazle Rabbi: University of Illinois
Jin Yao Ho: University of Illinois
Siavash Khodakarami: University of Illinois
Jason Suwala: Oerlikon Balzers Coating
Wentao Yang: University of Illinois
Omid Mohammadmoradi: Sabanci University
Gozde Ozaydin Ince: Sabanci University
Nenad Miljkovic: University of Illinois

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Seventy percent of global electricity is generated by steam-cycle power plants. A hydrophobic condenser surface within these plants could boost overall cycle efficiency by 2%. In 2022, this enhancement equates to an additional electrical power generation of 1000 TWh annually, or 83% of the global solar electricity production. Furthermore, this efficiency increase reduces CO2 emissions by 460 million tons /year with a decreased use of 2 trillion gallons of cooling water per year. However, the main challenge with hydrophobic surfaces is their poor durability. Here, we show that solid microscale-thick fluorinated diamond-like carbon (F-DLC) possesses mechanical and thermal properties that ensure durability in moist, abrasive, and thermally harsh conditions. The F-DLC coating achieves this without relying on atmospheric interactions, infused lubricants, self-healing strategies, or sacrificial surface designs. Through tailored substrate adhesion and multilayer deposition, we develop a pinhole-free F-DLC coating with low surface energy and comparable Young’s modulus to metals. In a three-year steam condensation experiment, the F-DLC coating maintains hydrophobicity, resulting in sustained and improved dropwise condensation on multiple metallic substrates. Our findings provide a promising solution to hydrophobic material fragility and can enhance the sustainability of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40229-6 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40229-6

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40229-6

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().