A confined-etching strategy for intrinsic anisotropic surface wetting patterning

Abstract

Anisotropic functional patterned surfaces have shown significant applications in microfluidics, biomedicine and optoelectronics. However, surface patterning relies heavily on high-end apparatuses and expensive moulds/masks and photoresists. Decomposition behaviors of polymers have been widely studied in material science, but as-created chemical and physical structural changes have been rarely considered as an opportunity for wettability manipulation. Here, a facile mask-free confined-etching strategy is reported for intrinsic wettable surface patterning. With printing technology, the surface wetting state is regulated, enabling the chemical etching of setting locations and efficient fabrication of complex patterns. Notably, the created anisotropic patterns can be used for realizing water-responsive information storage and encryption as well as fabricating flexible electrodes. Featuring advantages of simple operation and economic friendliness, this patterning approach brings a bright prospect in developing functional materials with versatile applications.

Femtosecond laser-scribed superhydrophilic/superhydrophobic self-splitting patterns for one droplet multi-detection

“…The unique wetting phenomenon exhibited by superwettable patterned composite surfaces has enabled a wide variety of applications, such as microelectrode patterning, 18–20 water collection, 21–23 biological monitoring 24 and analyte enrichment, 25,26 and thus also holds great potential for microfluidic applications. 27–32…”

“…The unique wetting phenomenon exhibited by superwettable patterned composite surfaces has enabled a wide variety of applications, such as microelectrode patterning, [18][19][20] water collection, [21][22][23] biological monitoring 24 and analyte enrichment, 25,26 and thus also holds great potential for microfluidic applications. [27][28][29][30][31][32] Recently, the development of micro/nanotechnology has enabled the design and manufacture of high-precision surfaces with composite patterns. Various methods have been developed and successfully applied for precise droplet manipulation.…”

Novel Green Reversible Humidity-Responsive Hemiaminal Dynamic Covalent Network for Smart Window

“…Switchable and adjustable transparency materials have crucial applications, such as sensors, − bendable medical devices, anticounterfeiting devices, − or smart windows. − With the rapid development of modern materials science, researchers have successfully prepared various kinds of transparent and adjustable materials, the most studied of which are gel materials. At present, most of the investigations on gel materials have been carried out to achieve dynamic switching of transparency in different contexts through thermal, − electrical, , and nature stimuli .…”

Sophisticated yet Convenient Information Encryption/Decryption Based on Synergistically Time‐/Temperature‐Resolved Photonic Inks

“…Nowadays, information security has imposed a tremendous impact on human living, social stability, and even national security, causing urgent requirements of anticounterfeiting materials and advanced encryption/decryption technologies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ] To this end, anticounterfeiting materials, including watermarks, [ 7 , 8 , 9 ] photonic crystals, [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ] perovskite nanocrystals, [ 20 , 21 , 22 ] and luminescent patterns, [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] have been created to combat threats caused by fake information and information leakage. Versatile stimuli, including pH, light, and chemical and mechanical signals, have been explored as decryption keys to induce changes in appearance and properties of such materials that are visible to naked eyes or verified with special instruments.…”