Biomimetic water-repelling surfaces with robustly flexible structures
File(s)Manuscript_Biomimetic.pdf (1023.11 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Biomimetic liquid-repelling surfaces have been the subject of considerable scientific research and technological application. To design such surfaces, a flexibility-based oscillation strategy has been shown to resolve the problem of liquid-surface positioning encountered by the previous, rigidity-based asymmetry strategy; however, its usage is limited by weak mechanical robustness and confined repellency enhancement. Here, we design a flexible surface comprising mesoscale heads and microscale spring sets, in analogy to the mushroomlike geometry discovered on springtail cuticles, and then realize this through three-dimensional projection microstereolithography. Such a surface exhibits strong mechanical robustness against ubiquitous normal and shear compression and even endures tribological friction. Simultaneously, the surface elevates water repellency for impacting droplets by enhancing impalement resistance and reducing contact time, partially reaching an improvement of ∼80% via structural tilting movements. This is the first demonstration of flexible interfacial structures to robustly endure tribological friction as well as to promote water repellency, approaching real-world applications of water repelling. Also, a flexibility gradient is created on the surface to directionally manipulate droplets, paving the way for droplet transport.
Date Issued
2021-07-07
Date Acceptance
2021-06-14
Citation
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2021, 13 (26), pp.31310-31319
ISSN
1944-8244
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
31310
End Page
31319
Journal / Book Title
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume
13
Issue
26
Copyright Statement
© 2021 American Chemical Society. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsami.1c10157
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34171192
Grant Number
EP/N025954/1
Subjects
3D printing
biomimetic surface
droplet transport
friction
liquid repellency
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2021-06-25