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Title: Three-Dimensional Superhydrophobic Nanowire Networks for Enhancing Condensation Heat Transfer

Abstract

Spontaneous droplet jumping on nanostructured surfaces can potentially enhance condensation heat transfer by accelerating droplet removal. However, uncontrolled nucleation in the micro-defects of nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces could lead to the formation of large pinned droplets, which greatly degrades the performance. Here, we experimentally demonstrate for the first time stable and efficient jumping droplet condensation on a superhydrophobic surface with three-dimensional (3D) copper nanowire networks. Due to the formation of interconnections among nanowires, the micro-defects are eliminated while the spacing between nanowires is reduced, which results in the formation of highly mobile droplets. By preventing flooding on 3D nanowire networks, we experimentally demonstrate a 100% higher heat flux compared with that on the state-of-the-art hydrophobic surface over a wide range of subcooling (up to 28 K). The remarkable water repellency of 3D nanowire networks can be applied to a broad range of water-harvesting and phase-change heat transfer applications.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2]
  1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  2. University of Colorado
  3. Dalian University of Technology
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1427352
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5500-71141
Journal ID: ISSN 2542-4351
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Joule
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2542-4351
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; nanostructures; superhydrophobic; condensation; nucleation control; droplet dynamics; self-jumping; thermal management; heat transfer enhancement; electronic cooling

Citation Formats

Yang, Ronggui, Wen, Rongfu, Xu, Shanshan, Ma, Xuehu, and Lee, Yung-Cheng. Three-Dimensional Superhydrophobic Nanowire Networks for Enhancing Condensation Heat Transfer. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.joule.2017.11.010.
Yang, Ronggui, Wen, Rongfu, Xu, Shanshan, Ma, Xuehu, & Lee, Yung-Cheng. Three-Dimensional Superhydrophobic Nanowire Networks for Enhancing Condensation Heat Transfer. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2017.11.010
Yang, Ronggui, Wen, Rongfu, Xu, Shanshan, Ma, Xuehu, and Lee, Yung-Cheng. 2017. "Three-Dimensional Superhydrophobic Nanowire Networks for Enhancing Condensation Heat Transfer". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2017.11.010.
@article{osti_1427352,
title = {Three-Dimensional Superhydrophobic Nanowire Networks for Enhancing Condensation Heat Transfer},
author = {Yang, Ronggui and Wen, Rongfu and Xu, Shanshan and Ma, Xuehu and Lee, Yung-Cheng},
abstractNote = {Spontaneous droplet jumping on nanostructured surfaces can potentially enhance condensation heat transfer by accelerating droplet removal. However, uncontrolled nucleation in the micro-defects of nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces could lead to the formation of large pinned droplets, which greatly degrades the performance. Here, we experimentally demonstrate for the first time stable and efficient jumping droplet condensation on a superhydrophobic surface with three-dimensional (3D) copper nanowire networks. Due to the formation of interconnections among nanowires, the micro-defects are eliminated while the spacing between nanowires is reduced, which results in the formation of highly mobile droplets. By preventing flooding on 3D nanowire networks, we experimentally demonstrate a 100% higher heat flux compared with that on the state-of-the-art hydrophobic surface over a wide range of subcooling (up to 28 K). The remarkable water repellency of 3D nanowire networks can be applied to a broad range of water-harvesting and phase-change heat transfer applications.},
doi = {10.1016/j.joule.2017.11.010},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1427352}, journal = {Joule},
issn = {2542-4351},
number = 2,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Dec 18 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Mon Dec 18 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}