Nome e referência do Projeto
PORPLANTSURF – Superhydrophobic films inspired in the surface of plant leaves and petals from Northern Portugal
Acrónimo
PORPLANTSURF
Data de início e conclusão:
01/10/2018 – 30/09/2021
Objetivos:
PORPLANTSURF aims at developing superhydrophobic films mimicking the surfaces of plant leaves and petals collected in Northern Portugal. These innovative bioinspired materials will display a series of unique effects (“self-cleaning”, “anti-acing”, “anti-fogging”, “anti-fouling” and “anti-drag”) with great technological potential for the production of advanced innovative coatings. PORPLANTSURF will involve: (1) Selection of different taxa exhibiting superhydrophobicity. (2) Analysis of the wax chemistry, histology, hierarchical structure and wettability behaviour of the plant leaves and petals. (3) Selection of the taxa displaying the most marked superhydrophobic effect(s). (4) Synthesis and characterization of hydrophobic hybrid and biopolymer films doped (or not) with hybrid powders. (5) Production of the synthetic replicas through imprinting of the leaves or petals surface roughness on optimized films. (6) Validation and up-scale by Barbot-Indústria de Tintas S.A.
PORPLANTSURF will greatly increase the knowledge on plant species biology, ecology and evolution in Northern Portugal, and contribute to the understanding of plant adaptation strategies to different environmental conditions. It will also be an exciting and challenging source of inspiration for materials science researchers eager to mimic the complexity, sophistication and high performance of natural materials.
Entidade financiadora:
FCT
Montante do financiamento (global e UMinho):
Global: 192 598.75 €
University of Minho: 26 100.00 €
Beneficiário Principal: University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douto
UNIVERSITY OF MINHO (UM)
Rui F. P. Pereira, (CQUM)
Bolseiro a contratar
UNIVERSITY OF TRÁS-OS-MONTES E ALTO DOURO
Verónica de Zea Bermudez, PI (CQ-VR)
António L. Crespi, Co-PI (CITAB)
Rubén R. Rodríguez, (CITAB)
Eunice A. Bacelar, (CITAB)
Maria P. Gonçalves, (CQ-VR)
Mariana P. Fernandes, (CQ-VR)
Nuno V. Barbosa, (CITAB)
Investigador a contratar
UNIVERSITY OF BEIRA INTERIOR
Sílvia C. Nunes, (CICS)
Bolseiro a contratar
REQUIMTE – REDE DE QUIMICA E TECNOLOGIA
Susana C. Vicente, (REQUIMTE)
Sara S. Cunha, (REQUIMTE)
José O. Fernandes, (REQUIMTE)
Rebeca Cruz, (REQUIMTE)
INL – LABORATÓRIO IBÉRICO INTERNACIONAL DE NANOTECNOLOGIA
Paulo M. Ferreira, (INL)
