Three-Dimensional Printed Surfaces Inspired by Bi-Gaussian Stratified Plateaus

Area of Science:

• Surface Science and Engineering
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Artificial surface wettability is crucial for technological applications.
• Current designs often mimic natural flora/fauna, overlooking geological structures.
• Understanding wetting mechanisms is key to controlling surface behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore geological landscape-inspired surface morphologies for wettability control.
• To develop a novel artificial surface with unique wetting properties.
• To investigate the potential of these surfaces for droplet manipulation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a stratified plateau morphology using three-dimensional direct laser lithography.
• Characterization of the surface's topographical features, including a bi-Gaussian height distribution.
• Analysis of the resulting wetting behavior and comparison with existing models.

Main Results:

• The plateau-inspired surface demonstrated hydrophobic behavior despite being made from hydrophilic material.
• A new wetting mechanism was identified, subdividing the Wenzel and Cassie states into four substates.
• Successful application of the engineered surface for precise droplet manipulation was achieved.

Conclusions:

• Geological landscape-inspired surface design offers a novel approach to controlling wettability.
• The developed plateau morphology challenges and refines existing wetting state theories.
• This engineered surface holds significant promise for advanced microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip applications.