A simple approach to fabricate sticky superhydrophobic polystyrene surfaces

Abstract

We present a facile method for the fabrication of a sticky superhydrophobic polystyrene surface using ethanol as the non-solvent. The obtained surface shows the hierarchical textured morphology as well as the multiple scales of roughness and large numbers of microspheres. Without any chemical modification, the prepared polystyrene surface exhibits sticky superhydrophobicity with a high equilibrium contact angle of 153°. Interestingly, a water droplet on the surface cannot move at any tilt angle even when the substrate is turned upside down. The mechanism of the fabricated surface with high adhesion is discussed in detail. Moreover, the obtained polystyrene surface exhibits the strong adhesion to the liquid droplets of pH value from 1 to 14.

Keywords:

• superhydrophobic
• polystyrene
• sticky
• contact angle
• sliding angle

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Priority Academic Program Development Fund of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, and the Senior Intellectuals Fund of Jiangsu University (12JDG110).