Northwestern University

Christian John Machado

Kyoo-Chul Park

Yuehan Yao

Jian Cao

Jiaxing Huang

Youhua Jiang

Haiyue Huang

Nicolas Martinez Prieto

A surface texture includes a three-dimensional structure, a cross-section of which includes a first serration and a second serration. The first serration has a first peak having a height measured from a base of the three-dimensional structure to a top of the first serration. A valley is formed in between the first serration and the second serration, where the valley has a length measured from a base of the first serration to a base of the second serration. The first serration also has a vertex angle that forms the first peak. A coating that covers at least a portion of the valley, where the valley is designed to remain free of frost.

Hybrid surface designs with passive diffusion-limited deposition capabilities

Self-healing, hydrophobic composites and related methods are provided. A method of repelling water may comprise forming a layer of a self-healing, hydrophobic composite comprising a porous network of entangled polymer fibers and a hydrophobic phase change material infused throughout the network, on a surface of a substrate to form a treated surface; and exposing the treated surface to water, wherein the treated surface exhibits a native water droplet contact angle which is greater than that of an untreated surface without the layer of the composite.

Self-healing, hydrophobic composites and related methods

A system to collect liquid includes a wavy surface formed on a substrate, where the wavy surface includes a plurality of waves. The plurality of waves are configured to capture liquid from the air such that the liquid accumulates in valleys of the waves. The system also includes a liquid collection container configured to collect the liquid captured on the plurality of waves.

Liquid collection on wavy surfaces

Growing community of inventors

Evanston, IL, United States of America

Christian John Machado