Patterned hydrophobic–hydrophilic templates made from microwave-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited thin films

In the present research, nano-structured materials exhibiting super-hydrophobic behavior obtained by microwave-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD) had their surface chemical status altered through vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light irradiation. Falling water droplets rolled and bounced without wetting or spreading over the initially super-hydrophobic surfaces. We demonstrate a surface preparation technique to create a patterned super-hydrophobic/super-hydrophilic substrate in which micropatterns with super-hydrophobic and super-hydrophilic regions were prepared through irradiation with VUV light. To confirm the method, growth of water droplets is observed in situ on such super-hydrophobic/super-hydrophilic micropatterns. We discuss the applicability of the super-hydrophobic/super-hydrophilic pattern to the bottom-up assembling of materials, like site-selective electroless Cu plating on patterned substrates made of paper and selective cell culture experiments.