Modified solid surfaces exhibit unique wetting behavior, such as hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. Such behavior can passively control the fluid flow. In this study, we experimentally demonstrated a wettability-designable cell array consisting of unetched and physically etched surfaces by reactive ion etching on a silicon substrate. The etching process induced a significant surface roughness on the silicon surface. Thus, the unetched and etched surfaces have different wettabilities. By adjusting the ratio between the unetched and etched surface areas, we designed one- and two-dimensional wettability gradients for the fluid channel. Consequently, fine-tuned channels passively realized unidirectional and curved fluid motions. The design of a wettability gradient is crucial for practical and portable systems with integrated fluid channels.
© 2023. The Author(s).