3D Porous Superhydrophobic CNT/EVA Composites for Recoverable Shape Reconfiguration and Underwater Vibration Detection

Abstract Functional superhydrophobic materials with shape memory and electrical conductivity play important roles in a wide variety of growing fields. Herein, a robust 3D porous superhydrophobic composite (PSC) with multiwalled carbon nanotube/poly(ethylene‐ co ‐vinyl acetate) (CNT/EVA) as its skeleton is proposed for recoverable shape reconfiguration and underwater vibration detection. Thanks to the capillary wicking of the interconnected porous structure and ethanol plasticization of the skeleton, this PSC achieves fast shape reconfiguration (<20 s) and recovery (<20 s), high shape fixity (>98%) and recovery ratio (>90%), and excellent shape‐memory repeatability (>10 times) even at 80% compressive strain. Additionally, induced by the wave‐sensitive air layer trapped on the superhydrophobic surface, the flexible CNT/EVA skeleton endures compressed/stretched deformation. Thus, the conductive PSC sensor presents high sensitivity in monitoring tiny underwater vibrations generated by stirring, objects falling, a ruler sliding, ultrasonic ation, and human activities. The findings conceivably stand out as a new methodology for the fabrication of functional superhydrophobic materials for innovative and broad applications.