Diving–floating locomotion induced by capturing and manipulating bubbles in an aqueous environment

Abstract

A superhydrophobic and superaerophilic surface was fabricated by facile self-assembly of silica nanoparticle/PDMS composites. The relevant superaerophilic surface showed excellent adhesion to air bubbles in an aqueous environment. With bubbles adhering to the superaerophilic surface, the density of the whole system was adjustable, which was applied to induce a diving–floating locomotion in an aqueous environment.