Project Summary

1. Precisely engineered, random yet hierarchical interface nanotextures, also with, controllable directionality,
2. Introducing a new norm of random biphilicity in the above interfaces at the submicron level,
3. Realization of novel superhydrophobic membranes through controlled coating of commercial hollow fiber membranes.
4. Novel methods of nanometrology to precisely and rationally describe the complex interfaces.

Concept 1 is related to heat transfer exchange via dropwise condensation, where we target lifetime performance relevant to industrial surface condensers, while maximizing their heat transfer coefficient by up to an order of magnitude.

By employing concept 2 we target novel material systems focusing on dew water harvesting in humid environments.

Concept 3 targets new surface modification approaches for commercial membranes to achieve high efficiency in water desalination while ensuring anti-biofouling.

For the first three concepts described above, a key component of our work will be to ensure economic scalability, of the precisely controlled textures, to large surface areas so that they can be converted to industrial products.

For achieving optimal design, quantification and repeatable manufacturability of the aforementioned interfaces, we will employ novel metrology methods for hierarchical surfaces (concept 4) which will provide important theoretical feedback and understanding of the influence of critical surface structural parameters, through the entire project duration.

HARMoNIC is a external pageFETOPENcall_made project within the RIA - Research and Innovation actions. The external pageprojectcall_made started on 1^st october 2018 and has a duration of three years until  30^th September 2021.