Fabrication of hierarchical gecko-inspired microarrays using a three-dimensional porous nickel oxide template

Abstract

In the current work, a three dimensional porous nickel based (p-Ni/NiO) template processed by a simple electrodeposition method was used to fabricate the hierarchical gecko-inspired microarrays. The microstructure of p-Ni/NiO templates is controlled and optimized by deposition and post-treatment parameters. Bio-inspired polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microarrays with different morphologies were fabricated by casting and showed excellent adhesion strength and superhydrophobicity. This feasible method is a simple fabrication approach for the gecko dry adhesive using a reusable template.