Bio-inspired superhydrophilic coatings with high anti-adhesion against mineral scales

The unexpected adhesion of certain inorganic minerals on solid surfaces is constantly a source of severe problems in daily life and industrial production, including scales in water pipes. Inspired by the nanostructured inner surface of normal renal tubules, we design a superhydrophilic nanohair coating composed of a poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogel, which shows high anti-adhesion against mineral scales under flow conditions. Even at a high temperature of 80° C, the nanohair hydrogel coatings still show excellent anti-scaling performance compared to a flat hydrogel coating and a commercial water pipe with a polyvinylchloride (PVC) surface. The anti-scaling experiments and theory simulation reveal the crucial role of superhydrophilicity and fluid-assisted motion of the nanohairs in the anti-adhesion property. This study may provide promising insight into the design of high anti-adhesion coatings for resisting mineral scale attachment in water management systems.