Facile and versatile replication of high-performance superlyophobic surfaces on curable substrates using elastomer molds

We have developed a facile, versatile and low-cost fabrication method for high-performance superlyophobic surfaces (SLS, simultaneously superhydrophobic and superoeleophobic) on curable materials, which is promising to unblock the two bottlenecks of SLS (relying on very few materials and requiring demanding fabrication). By using poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as the elastomer mold, T-shape microstructures of Si-based SLS were readily transferred to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with high precision, high fidelity and comparable non-wetting performances. The repeatable and durable use of Si and PDMS allowed mass production of SLS on various curable materials without significant deterioration, and dramatically diluted the fabrication cost. We believe this method may initialize the high-throughput, high-performance and low-cost SLS fabrication on various substrates.

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