Utilizing an optimized azobenzene precursor and polydimethylsiloxane-soft-template-based secondary replication, we achieved light-driven switching of superhydrophobic adhesion of water droplets on a micro-arrayed liquid crystal polymer film, which is cross-linked in nematic phase and guarantees a satisfying stability for practical application. Regulated by alternating irradiation of UV-Vis light (365 nm/530 nm), the micro-arrayed film showed an ideal quick (< 1 min) and reversible switch of superhydrophobic adhesion. This kind of non-contact real-time controllable switching of microdroplet’s adhesion might inspire and facilitate the designs and applications in novel microfluidic devices.

Date Published: 7 October 2014
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 9182, Liquid Crystals XVIII, 918214 (7 October 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2061762

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9182:
Liquid Crystals XVIII
Iam Choon Khoo, Editor(s)