Functional Self Healing Superhydrophobic Material for Energy Applications

The project aims to develop functional superhydrophobic material with self-healing properties which will be used in dropwise condensation for enhanced heat transfer in energy applications. Current materials can achieve superhydrophobic properties by coating deposition or nanostructured patterns which are prone to rapid degradation and therefore have limited applications. This multidisciplinary project will combine bio inspired self-healing properties with nanoscaled hierarchical structures and low-surface-energy materials. When awarded this project will strengthen internal collaboration between the schools and will provide platform for collaboration with Prof Castrejon-Pita from University of Oxford. It will also provide experimental support for EPSRC project "HiLeMMS": High-Level Mesoscale Modelling System (EP/P022243/1) with 4 Russell Group universities and 2 industrial partners.