Engineered wettability surfaces derive their functionality from micro-, nano-, and molecular-scale control of liquid–solid interactions, yet they remain vulnerable to both chemical and thermal failure mechanisms.
This talk examines two transport-driven challenges that limit the performance of these surfaces. First, airborne hydrocarbon contamination alters surface wettability through spontaneous adsorption. We present a passive storage strategy based on molecular adsorption–desorption competition, in which a high-surface-area getter maintains surface cleanliness for weeks and can even remove existing contamination during storage.
Daniel J. Preston,
Rice University
Second, superhydrophobic surfaces lose water repellency when exposed to hot water because vapor condensation within surface textures induces an irreversible wetting transition. To address this thermal failure mode, we developed a multilayered insulated superhydrophobic (MISH) coating that suppresses condensation by moderating heat transfer. The resulting surfaces retain superhydrophobicity up to 90 °C and exhibit long-term durability, providing a scalable route to robust wettability control under realistic operating conditions with the potential for practical use promoting water repellency in the power, food, and medical industries.
Daniel J. Preston directs the Preston Innovation Laboratory at Rice University conducting research at the intersection of energy, materials, and fluids. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, the ASME Old Guard Early Career Award, the Energy Polymer Group Certificate of Excellence, and the Young Faculty Research Award in Rice’s School of Engineering and Computing. His lab is funded by NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy, among other sources. Dr. Preston earned his B.S. (2012) in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama and his M.S. (2014) and Ph.D. (2017) in mechanical engineering from MIT. Following his graduate degrees, he trained as a postdoctoral fellow from 2017–2019 at Harvard University in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology prior to joining Rice University in July 2019.