Superamphiphobic Properties Research Articles

Robust, intelligent photochromic cotton fabrics with superamphiphobicity and expedient UV detection ability

Multifunctional photochromic cotton fabrics have enormous application potential in our daily lives, but still suffer from poor durability, slow coloration, tedious fabrication process, and short service life. The hydrophilic and polysaccharide characteristics of cotton fabrics make them vulnerable to bacteria adhesion and proliferation. Herein, intelligent photochromic cotton fabrics featured with durable superamphiphobicity are fabricated by in situ growth of ZIF-8 nanoparticles encapsulating spirooxazine (SP) photochromic dyes on the fabric surface, followed by low surface energy treatment using a fluorocarbon resin (FR) via a dip-coating method. The resultant SP@ZIF-8/FR cotton fabrics exhibit superamphiphobicity with contact angles of over 150° to both water and oils (surface tension ≥30 mN/m). When exposed to UV light, the fabric rapidly changes its color from white to blue within 10 s and fades in 2 min under visible room light. The developed SP@ZIF-8/FR coating is durable against numerous damages in daily usage, such as machine laundry, abrasion and UV irradiation, without losing photochromic and superamphiphobic properties. The high durability and excellent reversible color response allow the coated fabric to intuitively and quantitatively monitor outdoor UV intensity. Owing to the presence of ZIF-8, the treated fabrics also show excellent antibacterial property with antibacterial rates of over 99 % against both E. coli and S. aureus. The developed fabric coating can be engineered to visually assess the UV intensity in the outdoor environment.

Multifunctional Superamphiphobic Coating Based on Fluorinated TiO2 toward Effective Anti-Corrosion.

The application of superamphiphobic coatings improves the surface's ability to repel fluids, thereby greatly enhancing its various functions, including anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, anti-icing, anti-bacterial, and self-cleaning properties. This maximizes the material's potential for industrial applications. This work utilized the agglomeration phenomenon exhibited by nano-spherical titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles to fabricate 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES) modified TiO2 (TiO2@fluoroPOS) fillers with low surface energy. This was achieved through the in-situ formation of protective armor on the surface of the agglomerates using the sol-gel method and fluorination modification. Polyvinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) and TiO2@fluoroPOS fillers were combined using a spraying technique to prepare P/TiO2@fluoroPOS coatings with superamphiphobicity. Relying on the abundance of papillae, micropores, and other tiny spaces on the surface, the coating can capture a stable air film and reject a variety of liquids. When the coatings were immersed in solutions of 2 mol/L HCl, NaCl, and NaOH for a duration of 12 h, they retained their exceptional superamphiphobic properties. Owing to the combined influence of the armor structure and the organic binder, the coating exhibited good liquid repellency during water jetting and sandpaper abrasion tests. Furthermore, the coating has shown exceptional efficacy in terms of its ability to be anti-icing, anti-waxing, and self-cleaning.

Bilayer coating fabricated on aluminum alloy substrates with superamphiphobicity, corrosion resistance, self-cleaning, and delayed icing properties

To address the functional failure caused by low-surface-tension liquid wetting and adhesion in superhydrophobic materials, in this study, we constructed a bilayer coating with superamphiphobic properties using an epoxy (Ep) bonding layer and an organosilane-grafted attapulgite (OG-ATP) layer through spray-coating technique. The prepared superamphiphobic bilayer coating exhibited high contact angles (CAs) and low sliding angles (SAs) for cold water (25 °C), hot water (85 °C), glycerol, ethylene glycol, peanut oil, and even n-hexadecane (CA = 150.4 ± 0.3° and SA = 7 ± 2°) with surface tension of 27.5 mN m−1. Surface morphology and elemental analysis confirmed the coating's unique micro-nano hierarchical structure and low surface energy characteristics. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results showed that the surface charge transfer resistance (Rct) and low-frequency modulus (|Z|0.01Hz) were enhanced by 6–7 orders of magnitude compared to the bare aluminum alloy substrate. The anti-corrosion performance remained stable even after 5 days of 3.5 wt% NaCl immersion. Additionally, icing experiments with water droplets at −10 °C and −15 °C revealed a significant delay in ice formation on the substrate protected by the bilayer coating. The development of this protective material, combining superamphiphobicity, self-cleaning, corrosion resistance, and anti-icing functions, will provide advanced technological reserves in areas such as marine, aviation, transportation, and manufacturing.

Preparation of super-amphiphilic waterborne polyurethane diversion mesh coatings with diversion properties and their excellent preservation properties on L. japonicus fillets

To isolate the exudates from food and reduce the secondary pollution of the exudates during transport and storage, a conductive coating with super-amphiphobic properties was constructed. A series of waterborne polyurethane (WPU) mesh coatings with different hydrophobic and oleophobic properties were prepared by impregnation method using diatomite (DE) particles and kaolin (K) particles to construct rough structure, using 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane trichlorosilane (PFOTS) to reduce the surface energy. They were characterized and their properties were measured. The modified K/WPU mesh coating (mK/WPU mesh coating) surface shows super-amphiphobic with micro-nano structure. Moreover, the super-amphiphobic mK/WPU mesh coating shows the best conductivity in the same water absorption medium. When the coatings were used as the diversion layer of the preservation pad, they can delay the decrease of sensory score and WHC, and the increases of TVC, pH, TBA and TVB-N of L. japonicus fillets. Meanwhile, it can delay the color changes and texture deterioration of the fish fillets. Among them, the mK/WPU mesh coating preservation pad has the best preservation properties that could extend the shelf life of refrigerated L. japonicus fillets 5 d–10 d, and has application potential.

Biofouling resistant materials based on micro‐structured surfaces with liquid‐repellent properties

AbstractAdhesion of contaminants on various polymer‐based devices during fluid‐substrate interactions is a common problem that can cause biofouling and corrosion. In this study, hierarchical structures with submicron features on polypropylene (PP), high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), and polycarbonate (PC) are fabricated by femtosecond laser ablation. The effect of the hierarchical structures on surface wettability, droplet impact, and bacterial attachment has been examined. Our results demonstrate that the structured polymeric substrates facilitate large contact angles and minimal interfacial adhesion, allowing droplets to roll off at a low angle of inclination below 5°. Further, rendering the hierarchical structures with a low‐surface‐energy coating can enable the surfaces to exhibit superamphiphobic properties. The low interfacial adhesion properties, as accounted by the large contact angles and small contact angle hysteresis, of such surfaces prevent bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. The findings provide a design principle for creating affordable biofouling resistant surfaces with a submicron topography that can be used for engineering and biomedical devices.

Developing RobEVELOPING DURABLE SUPERAMPHIPHOBIC COATING ON ROUGH ALUMINUM USING RESIDUAL FROM BURNED RECYCLED SILICONE RUBBER FOR ANTI-CORROSIONust Superamphiphobic Coating on Rough Aluminum Substrates Using Recycled Silicon Rubber and Simple Spray Pyrolysis Technique for Anticorrosion Applications

This study presents a new, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach for creating a superamphiphobic coating. The method involves using a spray coating technique to apply silicone rubber onto smooth and micro-rough aluminum (Al) substrates. To enhance the coating's surface energy reduction, a thin layer of silicone rubber – trifluorotoluene (SR-TFT) was added. The morphology and chemistry of the coatings were analyzed utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR). The coatings displayed superamphiphobic properties with contact angles (CAs) of 170° for water and over 150° for both glycerol and ethylene glycol. Additionally, a remarkably low water droplet sliding angle (SA) of less than 2° was observed for surfaces coated with silicone rubber (SR)- trifluorotoluene (TFT), whether smooth or roughened. The coatings were tested for mechanical and chemical durability by impinging water droplets and immersing them in an acidic liquid respectively. The results showed that SR-TFT-coated silicone rubber on micro-rough Al substrates maintained its superamphiphobic property and exhibited excellent corrosion resistance compared to hydrophilic Al plates. Furthermore, the coatings displayed self-cleaning properties when water droplets were poured over a dusty surface, as the rolling water droplets effectively collected contaminant particles, leaving the surface of the sample clean. These findings indicate potential applications for the developed coatings as self-cleaning surfaces in challenging environmental conditions.

Heating repairable superamphiphobic coatings for long-lasting antifouling application

Superamphiphobic materials exhibit broader applications and possess greater potential compared to their superhydrophobic counterparts. Therefore, it is crucial for superamphiphobic coatings to exhibit applications while maintaining a long service life. To address this challenge, the surface of natural clay kaolin particles was modified through the reaction of ethyl orthosilicate and 1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H -perfluorodecyl triethoxysilane to form organic-inorganic cage fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (fluoroPOS) modifiers. Subsequently, antimicrobial ZnO nanoparticles were prepared in situ using hydrothermal methods. Finally, a durable superamphiphobic coating was achieved by physical blending of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) solution with the superamphiphobic powder. Experimental results demonstrate that the as-prepared ZnO/kaolin@fluoroPOS/PDMS coatings are resistant to water, milk, coffee, soy sauce, tea, sunflower oil, lubricant base oils, and other everyday liquids at contact angles greater than 150 degrees, demonstrating superior superamphiphobic and self-cleaning properties. Moreover, the coatings can withstand harsh external environments such as strong acid and alkali chemical corrosion, high temperature heating, photo-radiation aging, mechanical friction and wear, and show good durability. More importantly, the low surface energy fluoroPOS can spontaneously migrate from the interior of the coating to the surface when exposed to heat, thus restoring their impaired superamphiphobic properties. The coatings also have good antimicrobial adhesion due to the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles. In addition, coatings can be fabricated on a variety of soft and hard substrate materials, such as cotton fabrics, sponges, aluminum sheets, and wood. Therefore, the repairable and durable superamphiphobic antifouling coatings constructed in this study are expected to find applications in many areas, such as building coatings, oil and gas pipelines, fluid drag reduction, and biological anti-corrosion.

Experimental and fluid flow simulation studies of laser-electrochemical hybrid manufacturing of micro-nano symbiotic superamphiphobic surfaces.

Micro-nano symbiotic superamphiphobic surfaces can prevent liquids from adhering to metal surfaces and, as a result, improve their corrosion resistance, self-cleaning performance, pollution resistance, and ice resistance. However, the fabrication of stable and controllable micro-nano symbiotic superamphiphobic structures on metal surfaces commonly used in industry remains a significant challenge. In this study, a laser-electrochemical hybrid subtractive-additive manufacturing method was proposed and developed for preparing copper superamphiphobic surfaces. Both experimental and fluid simulation studies were carried out. Utilizing this novel hybrid method, the controllable preparation of superamphiphobic micro-nano symbiotic structures was realized. The experimental results showed that the prepared surfaces had excellent superamphiphobic properties following subsequent modification with low surface energy substances. The contact angles of water droplets and oil droplets on the surface following electrodeposition treatment reached values of 161 ± 4° and 151 ± 4°, respectively, which showed that the prepared surface possessed perfect superamphiphobicity. Both the fabrication method and the test results provided useful insights for the preparation of stable and controllable superamphiphobic structures on metal surfaces in the future.

A dual-modification strategy for the preparation of super-amphiphobic nanofibrous membranes for high-efficiency oil aerosol separation

This study presents a highly effective FOTS-TiO2@SiO2 Nano fibrous membrane (NFM) with super-amphiphobic properties for oil aerosol purification. The membrane was fabricated by modifying the surface roughness of electrospun SiO2 NFM with a uniform array of TiO2 nanocones, followed by surface energy modification using 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (FOTS). The NFM exhibited exceptional contact angles towards both water (167.9°) and n-hexadecane (154.7°) as well as extremely low oil adhesion (38.7 μN). At a gas velocity of 3.2 m/min, the NFM demonstrated excellent oil aerosol separation performance, with a filtration efficiency of 99.87 % and a resistance of 10.0 kPa. The amphiphobic NFM also exhibited a good regeneration ability, with higher efficiency than SiO2 NFM after three rounds of filtration. These results suggest that the FOTS-TiO2@SiO2 NFM has promising potential for cleaning oil-bearing gas.

Tuning the Wettability of a Commercial Silane Product to Induce Superamphiphobicity for Stone Protection

Silane-based materials are used for the protection of heritage and modern buildings. A versatile method is developed to tune the wetting properties of a typical silane-based material from hydrophobicity to superamphiphobicity, thus enhancing the protective efficacy against rainwater and organic pollutants. A commercially available silane product is blended with a fluoropolymer to lower the surface energy and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles to affect the surface morphologies of the produced coatings on marble. Contact angles of water and oil drops are measured on the coating surfaces which were prepared using 16 different combinations of fluoropolymer and nanoparticle concentrations. It is shown that the synergistic effect of surface structure and chemistry can lead to the production of coatings that possess superamphiphobic properties. The wetting properties of a selected non-wettable coating are further characterised using a custom-made, fully-automated device (Kerberos) which monitors simultaneously the deformation of the liquid interface, spreading and sliding of the drop along the sample surface during tilting. Several tests are carried out to evaluate the durability of the selected superamphiphobic coating, offering overall promising results. The versatile method can be used to impart superamphiphobicity to the surfaces of various materials. The method developed herein can be adopted to tune the wetting properties of other silane-based commercial products which are used for the protection of buildings.

Self-cleaning and corrosion-resistant superamphiphobic coating with super-repellency towards low-surface-tension liquids

In this paper, we designed and fabricated a liquid-repellent coating that features both superhydrophobicity and superoleophobicity, viz. Superamphiphobic properties, based on dual adhesive tape binding layer and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane modified aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3@PDFTES NPs). The constructed superamphiphobic coating presented non-wetting, high contact angles (CA), and low sliding angles (SA) towards various liquids with different surface tensions including water (CA = 167.6 ± 3.5°, SA = 2.9 ± 0.6°), glycerol (CA = 154.2 ± 2.7°, SA = 4.7 ± 0.4°), ethylene glycol (CA = 156.1 ± 2.4°, SA = 5.8 ± 0.2°), and peanut oil (CA = 155.2 ± 2.8°, SA = 6.5 ± 0.7°). The dynamic self-cleaning behaviors driven by water-, oil-, and hot water droplets verified the super-repellency, ultra-low surface energy, and interfacial adhesion force. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed >250 mV positive shifting of Ecorr, 4 orders of magnitude lower Icorr, 7 orders of magnitude higher Rct and |Z| modulus values, demonstrating a significantly improved corrosion resistance of the superamphiphobic coating. The synergistic effect of the Al2O3@PDFTES NPs with low surface energy and the adhesive tape layer with interfacial binding force contribute to the development of stably self-cleaning and anti-corrosion superamphiphobic coating, which will be a potential candidate for protective interfacial materials for marine and industrial applications.

A strategy for fabricating multi-level micro-nano superamphiphobic surfaces by laser-electrochemistry subtractive-additive hybrid manufacturing method

To achieve superamphiphobic properties on the surface of copper, a novel strategy for fabricating multi-level micro-nano superamphiphobic membranes by laser-electrochemistry subtractive-additive manufacturing method is explored. To test the properties of the metal surface prepared by this method, a variety of testing experiments are carried out. The experiment results shows that the contact angle (CA) of water and oil droplets are 161° ± 4° and 151° ± 4°, while those rolling CAs are 2° and 10°, which shows that the prepared surface had excellent superamphiphobic properties. Through the wettability test at different temperatures, the surface hydrophobicity of the prepared samples at low temperature 5 °C is worse than that at a room temperature 25 °C. According to droplet bounce test, the water drops experiences two complete bouncing processes on the surface of the prepared samples when the laser scanning interval is equal to the laser spot diameter, which indicates that the stable Cassie state is related to the multi-level micro-nano structures. In addition, the superamphiphobic surfaces fabricated in this paper have perfect functionality and stability, which provides a novel method for the potential application in the automotive, aerospace, and shipbuilding industries.

Fabrication of Robust Waterborne Superamphiphobic Coatings with Antifouling, Heat Insulation, and Anticorrosion.

Water-based superamphiphobic coatings that are environmentally friendly have attracted tremendous attention recently, but their performances are severely limited by dispersibility and mechanical durability. Herein, a dispersion of poly(tetrafluoroethylene)/SiO2@cetyltrimethoxysilane&sodium silicate-modified aluminum tripolyphosphate (PTFE/SiO2@CTMS&Na2SiO3-ATP) superamphiphobic coatings was formed by mechanical dispersion of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) emulsion (PTFE), modified silica emulsion (SiO2@CTMS), sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), and modified aluminum tripolyphosphate (modified ATP). The four kinds of emulsions were mixed together to effectively solve the dispersity of waterborne superamphiphobic coatings. Robust waterborne superamphiphobic coatings were successfully obtained by one-step spraying and curing at 310 °C for 15 min, showing strong adhesive ability (grade 1 according to the GB/T9286), high hardness (6H), superior antifouling performance, excellent impact resistance, high-temperature resistance (<415 °C), anticorrosion (immersion of strong acid and alkali for 120 h), and heat insulation. Remarkably, the prepared coating surface showed superior wear resistance, which can undergo more than 140 abrasion cycles. Moreover, the composite coating with 35.53 wt % SiO2@CTMS possesses superamphiphobic properties, with contact angles of 160 and 156° toward water and glycerol, respectively. The preparation method of superamphiphobic coatings may be expected to present a strategy for the preparation of multifunctional waterborne superamphiphobic coatings with excellent properties and a simple method.

Preparation of robust and self-healing superamphiphobic cotton fabrics based on modified silica aerogel particles

Robust superamphiphobic cotton fabrics with antifouling and self-healing performance were prepared via a simple spraying method. With the composite coating of 1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H- perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (FAS), FAS modified silica aerogel (F-SiO2), and polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP), the obtained cotton fabrics showed excellent superamphiphobic properties with a water contact angle (WCA) greater than 170°, and oil contact angle (OCA) of about 158°. The chemical composition, surface morphology and thermal degradation behavior of the products were evaluated. The treated superamphiphobic cotton fabrics displayed excellent robustness against 1600 rubbing cycles, laundering durability and satisfactory chemical stability. Furthermore, the fabricated superamphiphobic coating also exhibited self-healing ability against plasma etching. The work confirmed that cotton fabrics can obtain superamphiphobic property by adjusting the concentration of the F-SiO2 and PVDF-HFP. The facile approach in favor of large-scale preparation showed promising potential for the wide application of flexible superamphiphobic cotton textiles with excellent durability and self-healing performance.

Facile manufacturing process of durable superamphiphobic and flame-retardant coatings based on layer-by-layer assembly

A layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly method was firstly used to prepare a powder with both superamphiphobic and enhanced flame-retardant properties. The ammonium polyphosphate (APP) powder was used as a core to adsorb the branched poly (ethylenimine) (BPEI) and phytic acid (PA) by the principle of electrostatic attraction. After a bilayer of BPEI and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were further assembled onto the particle surface, superamphiphobic powder was obtained. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) binder and superamphiphobic powder were mixed by the method of “two-layer glue + particle” to prepare superamphiphobic coating, which could provide superior mechanical durablility. The coating could be used on a variety of substrates, and had excellent superamphiphobic properties towards water and various kinds of low-surface-energy oils. The superamphiphobic surface achieved superior self-cleaning ability under diverse water and oil flux, and obtained good anti-fouling performance when immersed into various oils with high viscosity. The coated surface still showed good mechanical robustness of superamphiphobicity even when recycled abraded for 300 times. Moreover, owing to the good fire-retardant property of APP and the synergic effects among the polyelectrolytes, the coated fabric coated was difficult to ignite and could self-extinguish a flame within 6 s. This superamphiphobic and fire-retardant coating is considered to have a wide range of applications in many fields.

Superamphiphobic properties of fluorine doped graphene prepared by RF-PECVD: EIS and first principle study

A fluorine doped graphene (FDG) film was deposited on the surface of roving fabric by radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD). The micromorphology, functional group types, chemical composition, molecular structure and nanostructure image of the deposited films under different discharge power were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The static and rolling−water/−oil contact angle were measured by contact angle meter. The electrochemistry properties were tested using electrochemical workstation. The superamphiphobic mechanism was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and density functional theory (DFT), and the corresponding software were Gemry Echem Analyst and Materials Studio 7.0, respectively. The results show that the obtained FDG film has the best hydrophobic and oil repellent performance under the discharge power of 80 W. F atom in the FDG film is arranged on both side and the capacitance structure (C-model) is presented in the equivalent element by EIS fitting and DFT calculation under the discharge power of 80 W. The phenomenon proves that the electron transfer of free electrons from the position of K point in the Brillouin region of graphene surface was forbidden by the F atom, which is the mechanism of superhydrophobic and oil drainage on the FDG film surface.

Preparation of biomimetic hair-like composite coatings with water-collecting and superamphiphobic properties

Superamphiphobic coatings have been widely used in self-cleaning and antifouling materials because of their unique liquid repellency. In this study, magnetic Fe3O4 particles and resin were sprayed to construct hierarchical scales of texture, and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane was used to reduce surface free energy, and a biomimetic hair-like composite coating was prepared. The microstructure and chemical composition of the coating was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Both aqueous and oily liquid droplets can retain a perfectly quasispherical shape on the coating surface. The biomimetic hair-like composite coating exhibited superior water-collecting and superamphiphobic properties as well stable resistance against severe temperature, concentrated acidic, alkaline solutions and mechanical damages. This design strategy may provide useful guidelines for the fabrication of large-scale regular superamphiphobic surfaces.

Synthesis of a novel superamphiphobic coating with a hierarchical three-dimensional structure inspired by bird's nest

Based on the stability of bird's nest multi scaffold structure, a hierarchical three-dimensional bionic structure (Wax-PFDMS-Pal-TiOx coating) with superamphiphobic (SAP) properties, high stiffness and good stability was designed with carnauba wax as barrier and binder, palygorskite (Pal) as structural framework, TiOx as nano filler and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PFDMS) as modifier. In addition, the morphology, structure and chemical composition of the coating were proved by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FI-TR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and other characterization methods. Studies have demonstrated that the nano-rough structure of Pal and TiOx can form submicron-nano composite hierarchical structure with carnauba wax, and hydrolyze and condense with PFDMS respectively to obtain the three-dimensional structure with high roughness and low surface energy. Under optimal conditions, the contact angles of water and oil on the coating surface are both over 160°. Meanwhile, the results of friction resistance test, salt resistance and pH resistance test show that the coating has excellent mechanical stability. The coating also has excellent self-cleaning property to resist the pollution of particles and mixture of water and oil. The current research is based on natural raw materials and provides a new idea for a stable bionic structure with SAP properties.

Fabrication of High Aspect Ratio Micro-Structures with Superhydrophobic and Oleophobic Properties by Using Large-Area Roll-to-Plate Nanoimprint Lithography.

Bio-inspired surfaces with superamphiphobic properties are well known as effective candidates for antifouling technology. However, the limitation of large-area mastering, patterning and pattern collapsing upon physical contact are the bottleneck for practical utilization in marine and medical applications. In this study, a roll-to-plate nanoimprint lithography (R2P NIL) process using Morphotonics’ automated Portis NIL600 tool was used to replicate high aspect ratio (5.0) micro-structures via reusable intermediate flexible stamps that were fabricated from silicon master molds. Two types of Morphotonics’ in-house UV-curable resins were used to replicate a micro-pillar (PIL) and circular rings with eight stripe supporters (C-RESS) micro-structure onto polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil substrates. The pattern quality and surface wettability was compared to a conventional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) soft lithography process. It was found that the heights of the R2P NIL replicated PIL and C-RESS patterns deviated less than 6% and 5% from the pattern design, respectively. Moreover, the surface wettability of the imprinted PIL and C-RESS patterns was found to be superhydro- and oleophobic and hydro- and oleophobic, respectively, with good robustness for the C-RESS micro-structure. Therefore, the R2P NIL process is expected to be a promising method to fabricate robust C-RESS micro-structures for large-scale anti-biofouling application.

Sandpaper as template for a robust superhydrophobic surface with self-cleaning and anti-snow/icing performances

Superhydrophobic surfaces have important applications in various fields. However, the development of artificial superhydrophobic surfaces for large scale applications is hindered by their poor mechanical and chemical robustness. In this study, a simple, inexpensive, and scalable strategy was reported to create a versatile superhydrophobic surface that used sandpaper as a template to lock-in the fluorinated inorganic/organic film. The surface exhibited exceptional mechanical robustness, pressure stability, and repellency to hot water. Moreover, the surface could be widely stuck to any substrate by using a double-sided adhesive or glue. Interestingly, the surface with superamphiphobic properties exhibited superior self-cleaning and anti-snow/icing performance even after its top layer was exposed to 50 abrasion cycles with sandpaper. Besides, it had excellent repellency to corrosive liquids and substances with low-surface-energy. We envision that the superhydrophobic sandpaper surface will have a potential application in infrastructure and medicine, and can also behave as an effective antifouling and anti-snow/icing material operating in harsh environments.