Tunable Superhydrophobicity from 3D Hierarchically Nano-Wrinkled Micro-Pyramidal Architectures

Interfacial surfaces with hierarchical structures have triggered intense research interest and been used in a broad range of applications ranging from anti-icing, anti-fogging, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to catalytic reaction. However, the high-cost manufacturing processes and the limited durability remain as great challenges that need to be addressed, especially for superhydrophobicity. In this work, a novel hybrid approach for stretchable, transparent, and robust superhydrophobic surfaces is proposed, constructing micro-pyramid architectures with tunable hierarchical wrinkles efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner. Due to the multiscale structures, excellent superhydrophobicity is obtained with contact angle of approximate to 172 degrees and sliding angle approximate to 5 degrees in a steady Lotus state. Further, the wear resistance and stability tests also suggest a superior performance under simulated severe real-world applications. Utilizing such multiscale synergistic co-operation effects can be an excellent manufacturing strategy and be extended to other surface engineering where hierarchical architectures are needed.

Automated summary

The study introduces a novel hybrid approach for manufacturing superhydrophobic surfaces with hierarchical structures, which exhibit excellent performance, wear resistance, and superior stability under severe conditions.