title: Multiscale roughness and stability of superhydrophobic biomimetic interfaces.
abstract: The stability of a composite interface of roughness-induced superhydrophobic surfaces is studied. To have high contact angle and low contact angle hysteresis, superhydrophobic surfaces should be able to form a composite interface with air pockets in the valleys between asperities (pillars). However, the composite interface may be unstable and can be irreversibly transformed into a homogeneous interface. We formulate a stability criterion and analyze the stability of the composite interface for several typical roughness profiles. To resist destabilizing mechanisms, multiscale (hierarchical) roughness is required. Such multiscale roughness is found in natural and artificial superhydrophobic surfaces.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8520, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8520, USA. michael.nosonovsky@nist.gov
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nosonovsky
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015233:Models, Statistical; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D010944:Plants; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water