Facile Fabrication of Superomniphobic Polymer Hierarchical Structures for Directional Droplet Movement

Abstract

We report a facile method for fabricating polymer hierarchical structures, which are the engineered, ratchet-like microscale structures with nanoscale dimples, for the directional movement of droplets. The fabricated polymer hierarchical structures with no surface modifier show hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, or omniphobic characteristics depending on their intrinsic polymer properties. Further treatment with a surface modifier endows the polymer surfaces with superomniphobicity. The fabricated polymer substrates with no surface modifier enable the movement of the water droplet along the designed track at almost no inclination of the substrate.