Scaling and mechanism of droplet array formation on a laser-ablated superhydrophobic grid

Fabrication and Applications of Nature-Inspired Surfaces with Selective Wettability

Inspired by the Stenocora beetle, selective wettability surfaces incorporate alternating wettable and nonwettable surface features that have received substantial attention over the past two decades. These surfaces are sought after for their very promising potential to drive progress in numerous application fields, including ecological protection, biomedical sciences, and industrial technologies. However, despite ongoing efforts to produce such surfaces in commercial quantities, understanding their basic fabrication concepts for practical applications can be challenging, especially for novices, given the vast technical literature in this area. This review, therefore, aims to elucidate the principles of wettability, along with the evolution of selective wettability surfaces and their uses. Beginning with a summary of the essential history and theory of wetting, we explore naturally occurring surfaces that have influenced wetting studies. We then detail state-of-the-art methods for fabricating these unique biwetting surfaces and show how contemporary science employs such designs in solving real-world problems. Finally, we offer an outlook for future research prospects on scalable, printing-based fabrication methods.

Hydrophobic Surface Array Structure Based on Laser-Induced Graphene for Deicing and Anti-Icing Applications

The exceptional performance of graphene has driven the advancement of its preparation techniques and applications. Laser-induced graphene (LIG), as a novel graphene preparation technique, has been applied in various fields. Graphene periodic structures created by the LIG technique exhibit superhydrophobic characteristics and can be used for deicing and anti-icing applications, which are significantly influenced by the laser parameters. The laser surface treatment process was simulated by a finite element software analysis (COMSOL Multiphysics) to optimize the scanning parameter range, and the linear array surface structure was subsequently fabricated by the LIG technique. The generation of graphene was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The periodic linear array structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser imaging (CLSM). In addition, CLSM testings, contact angle measurements, and delayed icing experiments were systematically performed to investigate the effect of scanning speed on surface hydrophobicity. The results show that high-quality and uniform graphene can be achieved using the laser scanning speed of 125 mm/s. The periodic linear array structures can obviously increase the contact angle and suppress delayed icing. Furthermore, these structures have the enhanced ability of the electric heating deicing, which can reach 100 °C and 240 °C within 15 s and within 60 s under the DC voltage power supply ranging from 3 to 7 V, respectively. These results indicate that the LIG technique can be developed to provide an efficient, economical, and convenient approach for preparing graphene and that the hydrophobic surface array structure based on LIG has considerable potential for deicing and anti-icing applications.

Rapid Fabrication of High-Performance Flexible Pressure Sensors Using Laser Pyrolysis Direct Writing

The fabrication of flexible pressure sensors with low cost, high scalability, and easy fabrication is an essential driving force in developing flexible electronics, especially for high-performance sensors that require precise surface microstructures. However, optimizing complex fabrication processes and expensive microfabrication methods remains a significant challenge. In this study, we introduce a laser pyrolysis direct writing technology that enables rapid and efficient fabrication of high-performance flexible pressure sensors with a micro-truncated pyramid array. The pressure sensor demonstrates exceptional sensitivities, with the values of 3132.0, 322.5, and 27.8 kPa-1 in the pressure ranges of 0-0.5, 0.5-3.5, and 3.5-10 kPa, respectively. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits rapid response times (loading: 22 ms, unloading: 18 ms) and exceptional reliability, enduring over 3000 pressure loading and unloading cycles. Moreover, the pressure sensor can be easily integrated into a sensor array for spatial pressure distribution detection. The laser pyrolysis direct writing technology introduced in this study presents a highly efficient and promising approach to designing and fabricating high-performance flexible pressure sensors utilizing micro-structured polymer substrates.

Investigation and Prediction on Regulation of Hydrophobicity of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Surface by Femtosecond Laser Irradiation

This study presents the contact angle prediction model of a trapezoidal groove structure based on the laser irradiation on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The trapezoidal groove structure was designed and proposed according to the characteristics of a femtosecond laser. First, the complete wetting model and incomplete wetting model which were compatible with the characteristics of the laser mechanism were constructed based on the Gibbs free energy and the structural parameters of the trapezoidal groove structure. Then, based on the contact angle prediction models constructed, the samples were divided into two groups according to the designed structural parameters, and the experimental investigations were carried out. The result demonstrated that the incomplete wetting prediction model was more in line with the actual situation. The convex width and the top edge length of spacing of the trapezoidal groove structure both affected the contact angle prediction results. From both the experimental contact angles and the contact angles predicted by the incomplete wetting model, it could be known that the contact angle reached 138.09° when the ratio of the convex width to the top edge length of spacing was 0.25, indicating that the smaller the ratio of the convex width to the top edge length of spacing, the better the hydrophobicity of PMMA.