Facile fabrication of self-healing superhydrophobic nanocomposite films enabled by near-infrared light

A novel robust self-healing superhydrophobic F-SiO2/Fe3O4/EP(epoxy)/PCL nanocomposite film was fabricated through a facile two-step method including resin spraying and NPs perpendicular gradient deposition. Specially, the epoxy/polycaprolactone (EP/PCL) mixed resin matrix was prepared through a spraying process and the functioned silica/magnetic iron oxide (F-SiO2/Fe3O4) nanoparticles were then deposited on the resin matrix by gradient distribution under gravity and solvent evaporation. The THF/ethanol mixture solvent which acted as film microstructure-directing agent guided the F-SiO2/Fe3O4 nanoparticles gradient distribution in the nanocomposite films. The results showed that the cutting cracks on the nanocomposite film could be rapidly self-healed and the film would maintain its superhydrophobicity after irradiation by near-infrared light. The nanocomposite films, especially the F-SiO2(8.5wt%)/Fe3O4(1.0wt%)/EP/PCL nanocomposite film, showed high resistant properties on abrasion, corrosive liquids and UV irradiation. The recovery mechanism of the nanocomposite films was also investigated.