Light-controlled quick switch of adhesion on a micro-arrayed liquid crystal polymer superhydrophobic film

Abstract

A micro-arrayed liquid crystal polymer film, cross-linked in the nematic phase, was successfully prepared from an optimized azobenzene precursor and polydimethylsiloxane-soft-template-based secondary replication. Regulated by alternating irradiation of UV-visible light (365 nm/530 nm), the micro-arrayed film showed an ideal quick (<1 min) and reversible switch of superhydrophobic adhesion.