Tunability of the Adhesion of Water Drops on a Superhydrophobic Paper Surface via Selective Plasma Etching

Authors: Balu, Balamurali¹; Kim, Jong Suk¹; Breedveld, Victor¹; Hess, Dennis W.²

Source: Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology, Volume 23, Number 2, 2009 , pp. 361-380(20)

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Abstract:

We report the fabrication of a sticky superhydrophobic paper surface with extremely high contact angle hysteresis: advancing contact angle ∼150° (superhydrophobic) and receding contact angle ∼10° (superhydrophilic). In addition, we report the controlled tunability of the contact angle hysteresis from 149.8 ± 5.8° to 3.5 ± 1.1°, while maintaining superhydrophobicity, as defined through an advancing contact angle above 150°. The hysteresis was tuned through the controlled fabrication of nano-scale features on the paper fibers via selective plasma etching. The variations in contact angle hysteresis are attributed to a transition of the liquid-surface interaction from a Wenzel state to a Cassie state on the nano-scale, while maintaining a Cassie state on the micro-scale. Superhydrophobic cellulosic surfaces with tunable stickiness or adhesion have potential applications in the control of aqueous drop mobility and the transfer of drops on inexpensive, renewable substrates.

Keywords: STICKY; SUPERHYDROPHOBIC; SUPERHYDROPHILIC; PAPER; CELLULOSE; TUNABILITY; HYSTERESIS; PLASMA; ETCHING

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156856108X383547

Affiliations: 1: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0100, USA 2: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0100, USA;, Email: dennis.hess@chbe.gatech.edu

Publication date: 2009-01-01