Combination of two physical phenomena, capillary pressure gradient and wettability gradient, allows a simple two-step fabrication process that yields a reliable hydrophobic self-cleaning condenser surface. The surface is fabricated with specific microscopic topography and further treatment with a chemically inert low-surface-energy material. This process does not require growth of nanofeatures ...

We experimentally demonstrate that Kerr spatial self-cleaning of a pulsed beam can be obtained in an amplifying multimode optical fiber. An input peak power of 500 W only was sufficient to produce a quasi-single-mode emission from the double-clad ytterbium doped multimode fiber (YMMF) with non-parabolic refractive index profile. We compare the self-cleaning behavior observed in the same fiber w...

Polymer membrane surfaces have been equipped with the digestive enzyme trypsin. Enzyme immobilization was performed by electron beam irradiation in aqueous media within a one-step method. Using this method, trypsin was covalently and side-unspecific attached to the membrane surface. Thus, the use of preceding polymer functionalization and the use of toxic solvents or reagents can be avoided. Th...

Titanium(IV) oxide (TiO 2 , titania) is well-known for its excellent photocatalytic properties, wide bandgap, chemical resistance, and photostability. Nanostructured TiO extensively utilized in various electronic energy-related applications such as resistive switching memory devices, flat panel displays, photodiodes, solar water-splitting, photocatalysis, cells. This article presents recent adv...

Self-organized V-N co-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) with various doping amount were synthesized by anodizing in association with hydrothermal treatment. Impacts of V-N co-doping on the morphologies, phase structures, and photoelectrochemical properties of the TNAs films were thoroughly investigated. The co-doped TiO2 photocatalysts show remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity for the CO...

Superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit extreme water-repellent properties. These surfaces with high contact angle and low contact angle hysteresis also exhibit a self-cleaning effect and low drag for fluid flow. Certain plant leaves, such as lotus leaves, are known to be superhydrophobic and self-cleaning due to the hierarchical roughness of their leaf surfaces. The self-cleaning phenomenon is widel...

A tokay gecko can cling to virtually any surface and support its body mass with a single toe by using the millions of keratinous setae on its toe pads. Each seta branches into hundreds of 200-nm spatulae that make intimate contact with a variety of surface profiles. We showed previously that the combined surface area of billions of spatulae maximizes van der Waals interactions to generate large...

In recent years, nanoparticles have come under close scrutiny for their possible health and environmental issues, making them less attractive photocatalytic applications in air or water purification. Replacing free nano-powders with active stable films is thus a fundamental step towards developing effective devices. Aluminum represents cheap technologically-relevant substrate, but its been hamp...

Titanium dioxide (TiO2)nanoparticles have been frequently employed in the environmental treatment and purification purposes as a cheap and highly efficient photocatalyst. A photocatalyst can facilitate the breakdown and removal of a variety of environmental pollutants at room temperature. TiO2 photocatalyst is the best candidatebecause of its strong oxidized ability, non-toxicity and longtherma...