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Lotus Effect and Self-Cleaning

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Biomimetics in Materials Science

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Materials Science ((SSMATERIALS,volume 152))

Abstract

Self-cleaning surfaces are capable of repelling contaminants, including solid particles, organic liquids, and biocontaminants. The most common principle of self-cleaning is based on the Lotus effect, which involves the superhydrophobicity induced by surface roughness. The phenomenon of superhydrophobicity and its various implications have been considered in detail in the preceding chapter. The name of the Lotus effect was coined due to the observation that the leaves of Lotus (Nelumbo) can emerge clean from dirty water, making lotus a symbol of purity in many Asian cultures. Superhydrophobicity is the core property that leads to the Lotus effect-based self-cleaning, so we discuss in this chapter basic observations on superhydrophobicity in biological surfaces (including, plant leaves, insects, birds, gecko feet, etc.) as well as artificial surfaces.

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  1. College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, 53211-0413, WI, USA

    Michael Nosonovsky & Pradeep K. Rohatgi

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Nosonovsky, M., Rohatgi, P.K. (2011). Lotus Effect and Self-Cleaning. In: Biomimetics in Materials Science. Springer Series in Materials Science, vol 152. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0926-7_11

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