Biomimetic Adhesive Superhydrophobic Metal-Polymer Hybrid Surface Prepared by Self-Organization

Biomimetic highly adhesive superhydrophobic metal-dome and polymer-pillar hybrid structured surfaces were prepared by electroless plating of self-organized honeycomb-patterned porous films having accurately arranged micron pores and simple peeling. Tunable water droplet adhesion and gradients of water droplet adhesion on the hybrid surfaces were achieved by wettability control of the honeycomb pores in the metal deposition process. Micro-droplet transfer between superhydrophobic surfaces without any mass loss was demonstrated by using the hybrid surfaces that possess different water droplet adhesion properties. Micro-droplet separation on the hybrid surface having gradients of the dome density was performed on the hybrid surface with gradient of water droplet adhesion property; the low-adhesion area showed droplet sliding and the high-adhesion area showed droplet pinning. These droplet manipulations on the adhesive superhydrophobic surfaces will be helpful for energy-saving microfluidic devices.