title: 3D Micropatterned Surface Inspired by Salvinia molesta via Direct Laser Lithography.
abstract: Biomimetic functional surfaces are attracting increasing attention for their relevant technological applications. Despite these efforts, inherent limitations of microfabrication techniques prevent the replication of complex hierarchical microstructures. Using a 3D laser lithography technique, we fabricated a 3D patterned surface bioinspired to Salvinia molesta leaves. The artificial hairs, with crownlike heads, were reproduced by scaling down (ca. 100 times smaller) the dimensions of natural features, so that microscale hairs with submicrometric resolution were attained. The micropatterned surface, in analogy with the natural model, shows interesting properties in terms of hydrophobicity and air retention when submerged by water, even if realized with a hydrophilic material. Furthermore, we successfully demonstrated the capability to promote localized condensation of water droplets from moisture in the atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tricinci
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.|Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Tercio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terencio
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mazzolai
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bio-inspired & Graphene Nanomechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento , via Mesiano 77, 38123 Trento, Italy.|Center for Materials and Microsystems, Fondazione Bruno Kessler , via Sommarive 18, 38123 Povo, Italy.|School of Engineering & Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London , Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Pugno
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.
authors.forename: Virgilio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mattoli
mesh_terms: D029624:Ferns / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007834:Lasers; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D013227:Steam; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D013227:Steam
keywords: 3D laser lithography; air trapping; biomimetics; fog collecting; hydrophobic surface