Smart responsive surfaces switching reversibly between super-hydrophobicity and super-hydrophilicity

Abstract

Super-hydrophilicity and super-hydrophobicity are fundamentally opposite properties of special wettability, which are governed by surface chemical composition and surface roughness. Smart responsive surfaces switching reversibly between super-hydrophobicity and super-hydrophilicity can be effectively fabricated by modification of stimuli-responsive materials on rough surfaces. The externally applied stimuli include light irradiation, electrical potential, temperature, pH or selected solvents, and mechanical forces. Such surfaces with controllable wettability are of great importance to both fundamental research and practical applications.