Mechanically Tunable Superhydrophobic Surfaces Enabled by the Rational Manipulation of Microcrack Networks in Nanoporous Films. Issue 17 (17th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mazaltarim, Ali J.; Torres, Angel; Morin, Stephen A.
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials interfaces. Volume 8:Issue 17(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-08-17
• Subjects: adaptive materials -- droplet adhesion -- elastomers -- hierarchical structures -- microcracks -- superhydrophobic surfaces; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.202100869
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-7350

Abstract

Abstract: Adaptive materials with tunable superhydrophobic surfaces promise to impact a range of fluid handling technologies; however, adaptive superhydrophobic materials remain difficult to fabricate, control, and switch rapidly. Here, a versatile method for generating hierarchically structured and adaptive superhydrophobic silicone films for the rational control of surface wettability and droplet adhesion is reported. Specifically, mechanical tension is utilized to manipulate networks of microcracks in nanoporous layers supported on elastomeric silicone films, enabling dynamic modulation of superhydrophobicity and droplet adhesion. The reported mechano‐responsive superhydrophobic surfaces are applied to directional droplet shedding and "no‐loss" droplet transport and are used to generate artificial "skins" with droplet tweezing capabilities. This approach provides materials with enhanced functionality useful to a range of emergent technologies, including adaptive textiles, biocompatible (wearable) sensors, soft robotics, anti‐icing systems, "no‐loss" droplet manipulators, and thermal management devices. Abstract : Mechanically tunable and hierarchically structured superhydrophobic silicone surfaces with switchable wettability and droplet adhesion are reported. A simple and scalable solution‐phase etching process enables the generation of nanorough silica surfaces, which are then fractured along surface instabilities to afford mechanically tunable microcrack networks. These adaptive materials enable the rational transfer of droplets for applications in compliant/wearable droplet tweezers.