Water-based layer-by-layer surface chemical modification of biomimetic materials: oil repellency.

Biomimetic materials possessing hierarchical surface roughness thrive when complementary terminal chemical functionality is introduced. However, incorporating terminal functionality on the biomimetic material is the challenge, especially, when its roughness needs to be preserved. Hence, we report surface chemical modification of biomimetic materials through water-based layer-by-layer deposition.

Surface chemical modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based biomimetic materials: oil-repellent surfaces.

The oil-repellent performance of a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based biomimetic replica (PDMS-replica) was tuned by modifying its surface chemical composition. PDMS-replica possessing a complementary combination of hierarchical roughness and mixed -CF(3) and -SiCH(3) terminal functionality was prepared in the presence of a surface-modifying agent, using nanocasting based on soft lithography. PDMS-replica showed superhydrophobicity and enhanced oil repellency, theta(oil) approximately 86 degrees .