Formation of superhydrophobic poly(dimethysiloxane) by ultrafast laser-induced surface modification

Opt Express. 2008 Aug 18;16(17):12715-25. doi: 10.1364/oe.16.012715.

Abstract

The formation of hemispherical nanostructures and microscaled papilla by ultrafast laser irradiation was found to be a potential method to generate superhydrophbic surface of synthetic polymers. Irradiation of femtosecond laser creates roughened poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surface in nano- and microscales, of which topography fairly well imitate a Lotus leaf in nature. The modified surface showed superhydrophobicity with a contact angle higher than 170 degrees as well as sliding angle less than 3 degrees. We further demonstrated that negative replica of the processed PDMS surface exhibit large contact angle hysteresis with a sliding angle of 90 degrees while the positive replica maintains superhydrophobicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry*
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / radiation effects*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Lasers*
  • Materials Testing
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / radiation effects
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Nylons / chemistry*
  • Nylons / radiation effects*
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Nylons
  • poly(dimethylsiloxane)-polyamide copolymer