Chapter 4 - Molecular Surface Arrangement to Control Dynamic Dewettability

Abstract

In this chapter, we introduce novel surfaces showing unusual dynamic dewetting behavior against various types of polar and nonpolar liquids in air, water, and oil. Our techniques, using relatively simple chemistry and ubiquitous elements, are facile and cost-effective, and create surfaces showing negligible contact angle (CA) hysteresis based on a simple molecular arrangement on topmost surfaces. For example, smooth and flat surfaces covered with specific featured monolayers, polymer brushes, and alkylsilane-derived hybrid films are good examples. On such surfaces, various liquids can move very easily, rolling off at low substrate tilt angles without pinning, regardless of the magnitude of static CAs. This work shows that to achieve excellent dynamic dewettability, conventional surface-roughening techniques or perfluorinated compounds are not necessary.