Biomimetic superhydrophobic polymer surfaces by replication of hierarchical structures fabricated using precision tooling machine and anodized aluminum oxidation

This report describes a simple and controllable fabrication method of producing superhydrophobic polymer surfaces replicated from aluminum mold inserts in a thermal nanoimprint prepared using precision tooling and an anodized aluminum oxidation process. This producible fabrication method is applicable in the polymer manufacturing field. Patterned hierarchical polymer structures achieved a contact angle greater than 150° without additional coatings. The contact angles were controlled by changing the nanorod length and area fraction of micro-sized convex. Additionally, patterned polymer structures exhibited droplet evaporation behaviors, which show the hysteresis of the solid surface. The hierarchical polymer structures show lower hysteresis than that of microstructures or nanostructures because of the short continuous contact line of nanoscale three-phase contact line and the large area of the micrometer air pocket.