Hybrid contact and interfacial adhesion on well-defined periodic hierarchical pillars

Abstract

Herein, we describe a simple fabrication procedure for creating artificial hierarchical micro/nanopillars on silicon substrates that allows an effective, precise control of the interfacial adhesion and surface hydrophobicity. These well-defined hierarchical micro/nanostructures have four possible wetting states: Cassie–Cassie (C–C), Cassie–Wenzel (C–W), Wenzel–Cassie (W–C) and Wenzel–Wenzel (W–W). By controlling the critical height of the micro/nanopillars, it is possible to fabricate hierarchical micro/nanostructures in these four states. Thus, the hierarchical superhydrophobic surfaces proposed and fabricated in this study are promising for mimicking either lotus leaves with low adhesion or rose petals with high adhesion.