Rachmat Subagyo, I.N.G. Wardana, Agung Sugeng Widodo, Eko Siswanto
This study is aimed at uncovering the mechanism and role of the super hydrophobic characteristic of taro leaves on the process of hydrogen gas formation when there is a contact with a water droplet. The investigation was organized as: SEM-EDX analysis on the surface of taro leaf, observation on gas bubbles within a water droplet on the surface of taro leaves, and the detection of hydrogen gas production. The study result shows that the super hydrophobic characteristic of taro leaves caused the formation of great contact angle and high surface tension energy in droplets. A pointed-shaped nano texture caused the tension energy of the droplet surface to increase. As a result, particles randomly vibrate triggering the reaction between H2O droplets and Mg, K, and Ca on the surface of leaves producing hydrogen gas bubbles. Some gas was trapped in the nano grooves on the leaves surface and some with high pressure broke through the droplet and then were driven out by the Brownian motion. © 2017 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved.
Brawijaya University, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lambung Mangkurat University, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brawijaya University, Indonesia
