Electrophoretic-deposited surfaces

Abstract

A method of altering a property of a surface includes suspending a plurality of low surface energy particles in a solvent, agglomerating the suspension of particles, and subjecting the suspension of particle agglomerates to electrophoretic deposition onto a substrate for a predetermined time. The altered surface may be superhydrophilic or superhydrophobic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A substrate comprising:
 a plurality of particles agglomerated and controllably electrophoretically onto a surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the particles include polymer-coated particles. 
     
     
         3 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polydimethylsiloxane. 
     
     
         4 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the particles include alkylsilane-coated particles. 
     
     
         5 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the particles include ceramic particles, metallic particles, semiconductor particles, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, quantum dots, amorphous materials, nanowires, or polymers. 
     
     
         6 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the bonding additive includes an epoxy, a polymer, a photoactive material, metal ions, or a cellulosic material. 
     
     
         7 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes permeable polymer membranes, metal mesh, metal wires, metal rods, fabric and textiles, titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, gold, silver, brass, bronze, cast iron, copper, nickel, platinum, iron, or tungsten. 
     
     
         8 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are high surface energy particles. 
     
     
         9 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are low surface energy particles. 
     
     
         10 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the agglomerated particles consist essentially of particles of a single particle size. 
     
     
         11 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate having the plurality of agglomerated particles thereon is dry. 
     
     
         12 . A system for altering a physical property of a surface of a deposition substrate comprising:
 a first electrode;   a second electrode opposite the first electrode;   a power supply connected to the first electrode and the second electrode; and   a suspension of a plurality particle agglomerates in a solvent within which the first electrode and the second electrode are immersed.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the electrode includes an electrically conductive substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first electrode or second electrode is also the deposition substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the deposition substrate includes permeable membranes, metal mesh, metal wires, metal rods, fabric and textiles, titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, gold, silver, brass, bronze, cast iron, copper, nickel, platinum, iron, or tungsten. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first electrode and second electrode, independently, includes titanium, aluminum, stainless steel, gold, silver, brass, bronze, cast iron, copper, nickel, platinum, iron, tungsten, or any alloys or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first electrode and second electrode, independently, includes conductive materials or non-conductive materials coated with conductive polymers. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the power supply is a DC power supply. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the power supply is an AC power supply. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the system is configured for agglomerating the particles in the suspension before applying an electric field to subject the agglomerated particles in the suspension to electrophoretic deposition onto the substrate.