Water nanocondensation on polymer single crystal-decorated buckypaper

Condensation on the surfaces of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) buckypaper and polymer single crystal-decorated buckypaper was monitored in situ using an environmental SEM (ESEM). Water vapor was pumped into the chamber, and backside cooling was used to control sample surface temperature. In this way, condensation could be imposed on the sample. It was found that, due to the different wetting states, condensation contact angles of all the samples are significantly lower than the static contact angles measured by the sessile drop method. The polyethylene (PE) single crystal-decorated buckypaper also strongly resists water vapor condensation, thereby precluding flooding below the fog point. Our results show that the heterogeneous surface structure plays a key role in determining water condensation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.