A lotus-leaf-like SiO2 superhydrophobic bamboo surface based on soft lithography

Abstract

Biological microstructures have been a source of inspiration for scientific researchers and artists. In this paper, the microstructure of the lotus leaf was replicated on the bamboo surfaces by soft lithography, using a fresh lotus leaf as the template and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for a seal. And the hydrophobic monodisperse nano SiO2 microspheres were added to improve the strength, abrasion resistance, and water resistance of the bamboo surfaces. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) showed that the lotus-leaf-like bamboo had a polycrystalline surface, and the lotus-leaf-like topography played a very important role in the fabrication of the superhydrophobic surface. The water contact angle (WCA) of lotus-leaf-like bamboo surface was 152.5° with a low hysteresis showing a good superhydrophobic property. The successful preparation of the lotus-leaf-like bamboo provided a new method for researches on the water corrosion resistance of bamboos, and also confirmed the feasibility that hydrophilic surfaces like the bamboo could be achieved with the nanotechnology.