Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Scientific Correspondence
  • Published:

Light-induced amphiphilic surfaces

Abstract

The ability to control the surface wettability of solid substrates is important in many situations. Here we report the photogeneration of a highly amphiphilic (both hydrophilic and oleophilic) titanium dioxide surface. The unique character of this surface is ascribed to the microstructured composition of hydrophilic and oleophilic phases, produced by ultraviolet irradiation. The result is a TiO2-coated glass which is antifogging and self-cleaning.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: a, A hydrophobic surface before ultraviolet irradiation.
Figure 2: FFM images of a rutile TiO2(110) single crystal surface.

References

  1. Wilbur, J. L., Biebuyck, H. A., MacDonald, J. C. & Whitesides, G. M. Langmuir 11,825–831 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Shultz, A. N.et al. Surface Sci. 339,114–124 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hugenschmidt, M. B., Gamble, L. & Campbell, C. T. Surface Sci. 302,329–340 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Henderson, M. A. Surface Sci. 355,151–166 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Murray, P. W., Condon, N. G. & Thornton, G. Phys. Rev. B 51,10989–10997 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fujishima, A. & Honda, K. Nature 238,37–38 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, R., Hashimoto, K., Fujishima, A. et al. Light-induced amphiphilic surfaces. Nature 388, 431–432 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/41233

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/41233

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing