Switchable and reversible water adhesion on superhydrophobic titanate nanostructures fabricated on soft substrates: photopatternable wettability and thermomodulatable adhesivity

A titanate nanotube (TNT) film is demonstrated to provide a switchable and adhesive hydrophobic surface. The surface adhesivity is reversibly switched from adhesive to repellent by mild heating and spontaneous rehydration. A persistent superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic pattern can be fabricated on the TNT films coated on soft substrates.