Bioinspired Superwetting Interfacial Nanomaterials and Beyond: Bionic Ultralow-Energy-Consumption Processes

Through the study of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic phenomena in lotus leaves and animal corneas, etc., we have discovered that the micro/nanostructures and surface chemical composition are the physicochemical essence of superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity, confirming that ordered arrangement of water molecules at hydrophilic nanostructured interfaces is crucial for attaining superhydrophilicity and further defining superwettability as a complementarity of superlyophobicity and superlyophilicity. It is revealed that the intrinsic wetting threshold of the liquid corresponds to the transition point of superlyophobicity and superlyophilicity on a nanostructured surface, rather than 90° for all kinds liquids according to Young's equation. A superwetting interfacial nanomaterial system, including 64 combinations, was established and then extended to 13 kinds of liquid systems under different pressures and temperatures. More than 10 superwetting interfacial nanomaterials have been applied in energy, environment, agriculture, resources, and information fields. On the other hand, dynamic superwettability is defined as liquid superspreading on two-dimensional surfaces with nanostructure, directional fluid through one-dimensional micropores/microcones, or even ultrahigh flux of molecules/ions in biological/artificial nanochannels. Based on the study of dynamic superwettability, we posed a fundamental question in the life sciences: how do living systems accomplish ultralow-energy-consumption (UEC) processes such as biosynthesis, energy conversion, and information transmission? Experimental and theoretical studies have evidenced the ordered, directional collective motion of molecules/ions within biological nanochannels as the physicochemical essence for the UEC process. Some bionic UEC applications in biosynthesis, energy conversion, material separation, and information transmission are further provided.