Wettability of nanoengineered dual-roughness surfaces fabricated by UV-assisted capillary force lithography

Micro- and nanoscale combined hierarchical polymer structures were fabricated by UV-assisted capillary force lithography. The method is based on the sequential application of engraved polymer molds with a UV-curable resin of polyurethane acrylate (PUA) followed by surface treatment with a trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl) silane in vapor phase. Two distinct wetting states were observed on these dual-roughness structures. One is “Cassie–Wenzel state” where a water droplet forms heterogeneous contact with microstructures and homogeneous contact with nanostructures. The other is “Cassie–Cassie state” where a droplet makes heterogeneous contact both with micro- and nanostructures. A simple thermodynamic model was developed to explain static contact angle, hysteresis, and wetting transition on dual-roughness structures.

Graphical abstractOur experimental and theoretical studies have demonstrated that there can be two distinct wetting states (Cm–Wn and Cm–Cn states) for a hydrophobic dual-roughness surface.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide