Rewritable superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic patterns on a sintered titanium dioxide substrate

Langmuir. 2010 Jul 20;26(14):11628-30. doi: 10.1021/la101947y.

Abstract

This Letter describes a new fabrication process for superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic patterns on a TiO(2) surface using a combination of an inkjet technique and the site-selective decomposition of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) by a photocatalytic reaction under UV irradiation. To induce high surface wettability, we carried out simple calcination of a Ti substrate. The substrate was thus oxidized to titanium oxide and had a vortex-like rough morphology, which was suitable for the formation of wettability patterns. Furthermore, the substrate can be regenerated after elimination of the superhydrophilic-superhydrophobic patterns by the photocatalytic decomposition of TiO(2) using UV irradiation, and the patterns are deposited again. The renewed surface that we created had a wettability pattern that was different from the preceding pattern. This process is based on a TiO(2) surface and should offer a renewable, resource-saving, and environmentally friendly methodology for the formation of wettability patterns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions*
  • Ink
  • Printing*
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Water
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium