Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 9.11
SEM image of the superhydrophobic coating with structural colors (cross-sectional
view) and their different colors due to the different sizes of the opals used in the fabrication
procedure of the coatings. Reprinted with permission from [
190
]. Copyright 2003 by Wiley-VCH
are immersed under water. Air-retaining surfaces are of great interest in fundamental
studies and economic and ecological applications, for example, for low friction
fluid transport, drag-reducing ship coating, extra water support force. Barthlott
et al. studied the floating water fern Salvinia revealing a novel mechanism for
long-term air-retention property. It was found the hierarchical architecture of the
leaf surface composed of superhydrophobic eggbeater-shaped hairs and evenly
distributed hydrophilic patches. The author concluded that the unique combination
of hydrophilic patches on an otherwise superhydrophobic surface help to stabilize
the air-water interface at a predefined level at the top of the hair [
191
]. The stability
