Self-organized Polymer Aggregates with a Biomimetic Hierarchical Structure and its Superhydrophobic Effect

Abstract

Nature always gives us inspirations to fabricate functional materials by mimicking the structure design of biomaterials. In this article, we report that polymeric aggregates with morphology similar to the papilla on lotus leaf can be self-organized in the polymer solution by adding 16 wt% water into 5 mg/ml polycarbonate solution in N,N'-dimethylformamide. The hierarchically structured aggregates at micro- and nano-scale alone show superhydrophobic effect without the need of modification with low surface energy compound. Small amount of liquid can be wrapped by the aggregates to form the so-called liquid marble. Influence of the amount of water added into the solution on the morphology of resultant polymer aggregates was investigated. By using the hierarchical aggregates as the surface building blocks, superhydrophobic coating with a static water contact angle larger than 160 degrees and sliding angle less than 5 degrees (for a water drop of 5 microl) was formed. Other solutions, like acid, basic and blood plasma are also repelled on the coating.