Abstract

SANTULLI, Carlo. Interaction with water in nature and self-cleaning potential of biological materials and species. Cuad. Cent. Estud. Diseñ. Comun., Ensayos [online]. 2021, n.94, pp.137-146.  Epub Aug 25, 2021. ISSN 1853-3523.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18682/cdc.vi94.3897.

Self-cleaning is an important characteristics of many biological species, considerably investigated in the biomimetic literature, with the aim to offer it into innovative materials. To try to summarize the different properties of bio-inspired materials having self-cleaning effect, different modes of classification have been proposed. In particular, either a paradigmatic species is cited, for example “lotus effect”, “rose petal effect”, etc., or a physical property is mentioned, such as super-hydrophobicity, super-oleophobicity, etc. This work considers some different modes in which nature implements self-cleaning as a form of effective interaction with water, depending on the respective needs of the various species. With this aim, a sample of ten species, selected among those which have been more investigated in biomimetic literature, have been considered. An attempt of classification is then given, trying to offer information for the development of new materials inspired from nature offering self-cleaning properties in different conditions of application.

Keywords : Self-cleaning; biological species; biomimetic literature; materials; nature.

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