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Development of Hybrid Surfaces with Tunable Wettability by Selective Surface Modifications
1Graduate School of Mechanical Design and Robot Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Korea. lhj8905@seoultech.ac.kr.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 5, 2017
Summary
Researchers modified polycarbonate (PC) film surfaces to control wettability, achieving superhydrophobic and hydrophilic states. This selective surface engineering enables advanced water-harvesting and collection capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Surface Science and Nanotechnology
Background:
- Micro/nano technology enables artificial surface wettability modifications, mimicking natural superhydrophobic and water-harvesting surfaces.
- Controlling surface wettability is crucial for applications ranging from microfluidics to water management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To selectively modify the surface wettability of polycarbonate (PC) films using a combination of surface treatments.
- To create surfaces with multiple distinct wetting states for advanced applications, including water collection.
Main Methods:
- Polycarbonate films were treated using micropatterning (ultrasonic imprint lithography), fluorinated silane coating, and electron beam irradiation.
- Profiled masks were employed to ensure selective application of treatments to specific regions.
- Contact angle measurements were used to quantify wettability changes and characterize different surface states.
Main Results:
- Selective micropatterning and coating transformed semi-hydrophobic PC (CA: 89.2°) into a superhydrophobic state (CA: 155.9°).
- Electron beam irradiation induced a hydrophilic state (CA: 48.2°).
- Combinations of treatments resulted in surfaces with significant contact angle differences (up to 107.7°) and up to four distinct wetting states.
Conclusions:
- Hybrid surfaces with precisely controlled, spatially defined wetting properties were successfully developed.
- The engineered surfaces demonstrated selective wettability and effective water-collecting capabilities, validated by water-drop experiments.
