Abstract: Wick-free vapor chambers and hybrid vapor chambers are described. An example wick-free vapor chamber includes a wettability-patterned condenser configured to control vapor condensation along patterned domains formed on the wettability-patterned condenser; and a wettability-patterned evaporator. The wettability patterned evaporator is configured to: i) accept condensate from the wettability-patterned condenser and ii) transport the condensate along patterned domains formed on the wettability-patterned evaporator to one or more hot domain portions of the wettability-patterned evaporator. An example hybrid vapor chamber includes a wettability patterned condenser configured to control vapor condensation along patterned domains formed on the wettability-patterned condenser; and an evaporator configured to accept condensate from the wettability -patterned condenser.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and materials for the manufacture and use of wettability tracks on various substrates for rapid fluid transport and drainage, even in a condensing environment. The degree of wettability of the materials' surfaces range from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic. The method centers on the formation of a dispersion of titanium dioxide and a fluoroacrylic co-polymer in an alcohol and water solution. The dispersion may then be deposited onto a surface to form a coating, which is then dried to evaporate the alcohol. The dried coating is exposed to radiation to produce a wedge-shaped track. The coating is exposed to the radiation through a photomask to produce the track. The radiation may be high energy, such as UV radiation. The radiation may be selectively exposed to designated areas on the coating. The hydrophilic wedge-shaped track may have a wedge angle of from 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition includes a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition alternatively includes a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine; an exfoliated graphite filler particle including acid functional groups; water; and a stabilizing compound, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic polymer is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition alternatively includes a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle including an acid functional group; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic surface includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated, water-based composition including a hydrophobic component free of fluorine, a hydrophilic filler particle, wherein the filler particle is a metal oxide nanoparticle, and water, wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. Also, a superhydrophobic surface includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition including a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine, titanium dioxide nanoparticles as filler, and water. In addition, a superhydrophobic surface includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition including a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine, wherein the hydrophobic polymer includes a polyolefin; titanium dioxide nanoparticles as filler, wherein the titanium dioxide nanoparticles are rutile titanium dioxide, anatase titanium dioxide, or a mixture of rutile and anatase titanium dioxide; and water.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic surface includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition, the composition including a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic surface alternatively includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition, the composition including a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine; an exfoliated graphite filler particle including acid functional groups; water; and a stabilizing compound, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic polymer is in an aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and materials for the manufacture and use of wettability tracks on various substrates for rapid fluid transport and drainage, even in a condensing environment. The degree of wettability of the materials' surfaces range from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic. The method centers on the formation of a dispersion of titanium dioxide and a fluoroacrylic co-polymer in an alcohol and water solution. The dispersion may then be deposited onto a surface to form a coating, which is then dried to evaporate the alcohol. The dried coating is exposed to radiation to produce a wedge-shaped track. The coating is exposed to the radiation through a photomask to produce the track. The radiation may be high energy, such as UV radiation. The radiation may be selectively exposed to designated areas on the coating. The hydrophilic wedge-shaped track may have a wedge angle of from 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface of a substrate, or the substrate itself, exhibiting superhydrophobic characteristics when treated with a formulation comprising a hydrophobic component, nano-structured particles and water. The superhydrophobicity can be applied either over the entire surface, patterned throughout or on the substrate material, and/or directly penetrated through the z-directional thickness of the substrate material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable dispersion comprising at least, but not limited to, three key elements that, when combined accordingly, can achieve the desired superhydrophobic results; the at least three elements being a hydrophobic component, nano-structured particles and water.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and materials for the production of hydrophobic coatings, which may be thermally treated to produce binary hydrophobic-hydrophilic regions.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition includes a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition alternatively includes a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine; an exfoliated graphite filler particle including acid functional groups; water; and a stabilizing compound, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic polymer is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition alternatively includes a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle including an acid functional group; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic surface includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition, the composition including a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic surface alternatively includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition, the composition including a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine; an exfoliated graphite filler particle including acid functional groups; water; and a stabilizing compound, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic polymer is in an aqueous dispersion.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and materials for the production of hydrophobic coatings, which may be thermally treated to produce binary hydrophobic-hydrophilic regions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface of a substrate, or the substrate itself, exhibiting superhydrophobic characteristics when treated with a formulation comprising a hydrophobic component, nano-structured particles and water. The superhydrophobicity can be applied either over the entire surface, patterned throughout or on the substrate material, and/or directly penetrated through the z-directional thickness of the substrate material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable dispersion comprising at least, but not limited to, three key elements that, when combined accordingly, can achieve the desired superhydrophobic results; the at least three elements being a hydrophobic component, nano-structured particles and water.

Abstract: A polymeric composition including a blend of poly(vinylidine fluoride) (PVDF), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), carbon nanofibers, and poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) particles is described and claimed. The polymeric composition may be coated onto a substrate and dried to form a film adhered to the substrate. The film optionally exhibits an electrical conductivity of about 10 Siemens per meter (S/m) to about 310 S/m and an electromagnetic interference shielding of about 32 decibels. Further, a coated substrate is provided including a substrate and a film adhered to the substrate, where the film includes a polymeric composition comprising a blend of PVDF, PMMA, carbon nanofibers, and PTFE particles.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods to provide electrospun polymer/nanoparticle composite-fiber structures for use as lightweight, compliant, porous strain sensors for non-cyclic strain sensing. In one embodiment, the fibers in the nanocomposites comprise, for example, poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) dielectric polymer matrix with embedded electrically conductive carbon black (CB) nanoparticles. In another embodiment, the composite-fiber structures of the present invention contain at least about 7 weight percent or more of CB and are electrically conducting in the as-spun, un-deformed state, and are thus called conductive polymer composites (CPC). In still another embodiment, the electrical resistance of a nanocomposite structure according to the invention increases with strain, and at sufficiently high strains the structure is rendered non-conductive.