Patterned superhydrophobic surfaces: toward a synthetic mimic of the Namib Desert beetle.
The present study demonstrates a surface structure that mimics the water harvesting wing surface of the Namib Desert beetle. Hydrophilic patterns on superhydrophobic surfaces were created with water/2-propanol solutions of a polyelectrolyte to produce surfaces with extreme hydrophobic contrast. Selective deposition of multilayer films onto the hydrophilic patterns introduces different properties to the area including superhydrophilicity. Potential applications of such surfaces include water harvesting surfaces, controlled drug release coatings, open-air microchannel devices, and lab-on-chip devices.
Zhai
Lei
L
Department of Chemical Engineering, and the Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Berg
Michael C
MC
Cebeci
Fevzi C
FC
Kim
Yushan
Y
Milwid
John M
JM
Rubner
Michael F
MF
Cohen
Robert E
RE
D019840:2-Propanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000737:chemistry
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004573:Electrolytes; D011073:Polyamines; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; C063994:polyallylamine; C006903:carbopol 940; D019840:2-Propanol