Tunable wettability of carbon nanotube/poly (ε-caprolactone) hybrid films

We have realized a stable superhydrophobic surface, a thermally tunable superhydrophobic surface, and a thermally tunable hydrophobic surface by combining the crystalline/amorphous phase transition of the poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) with the optimized surface roughness of the carbon nanotube/PCL hybrid films. The water droplet mobilities and wettabilities were reversibly thermally switched on the tunable superhydrophobic and the hydrophobic surfaces, respectively. These responsive surfaces have potential applications in microfluidic devices and microreactors and for liquid transportation. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.