Lotus and lotus leaf have always been loved by literati because of their quality of "getting out of the mud without dyeing". So why doesn't the surface of lotus leaf stick with mud or water? Let's talk about why the lotus leaves don't get wet.
0 1 After long-term observation and research by two German scientists, the mystery of lotus leaf surface was finally uncovered in the early 1990s. The self-cleaning effect of lotus leaf is related to its surface microstructure. It turns out that the leaves of lotus leaves have a very complex multi-nano-and micro-scale ultrastructure.
For example, under the electron microscope, the surface of the lotus leaf seems to be covered with bumps and fluff. At the top of the protuberance, there is a steamed bun-like protuberance, as if tentacles protect the leaf surface, so that anything bigger than it can't get close to the leaf surface. The existence of this milky white structure makes the concave part between the bumps filled with air, so it is close to it. This makes dust, rain, etc. The volume is much larger than this structure. After landing on the leaf surface, it only contacts with the convex top of the "mountain bag" on the leaf surface through a thin layer of air. Raindrops form a ball under the action of their own surface tension, and the water polo absorbs dust and rolls off the leaf surface, which is the secret of the "lotus leaf effect" that can self-clean the leaf surface.
The research shows that this self-cleaning surface nano-structure exists not only in lotus leaves, but also in other plants and fur of other animals. In fact, this complex ultra-micro nanostructure of plant leaves is not only conducive to self-cleaning, but also conducive to preventing a large number of harmful bacteria and fungi floating in the atmosphere from invading plants. In addition, more importantly, in order to improve the efficiency of leaf surface absorbing sunlight, and then improve the photosynthesis of leaf chloroplast.
Imitating the self-cleaning function of lotus leaves, it can be applied to surface nanostructure technology and can develop self-cleaning antifouling nano-coatings. Some nano-coatings are infiltrated with titanium dioxide. Adding nano-particles such as titanium dioxide into the fibers of clothes can make ordinary clothes shockproof, deodorizing, sterilizing and, most importantly, self-cleaning. Because of the hot and humid climate, this kind of thing is more needed in areas with island climate.
In this small circle of nature, there are great surprises. In order to gain more knowledge, there are many things to try to approach and feel. We first learned that many creatures in nature had microstructures before the progress of human science and technology, ranging from centimeters to millimeters, and even to microns and nanometers. We found nano-scale fine structures on lotus leaves. This tiny protrusion makes it difficult for water droplets to adsorb on the lotus leaf. When the leaf surface is inclined to a certain angle, water droplets will slide down along the leaf surface and take away the pollutants on it, thus achieving the effect of self-cleaning. This characteristic also applies to glass. For example, nano-treated glass itself has a self-cleaning effect and can be applied to fighter radar. Recently, many manufacturers also use nanotechnology to treat coatings, and objects coated with this coating will also have self-cleaning effect. When this technology is popularized, the world will also change. Dust-free floors, walls and radio supplies will continue to appear, and human life will be more progressive.