Multiprocessible and Durable Superhydrophobic Coating Suspension Enabling Printed Patterning, Internal Tubular Coating, and Planar Surface Coating

Abstract

In order to realize the commercial viability of superhydrophobic surfaces, excellent superhydrophobicity, durability, and multiprocessibility are key aspects. A number of studies regarding improved superhydrophobicity and durability have been extensively reported, while promising strategies aimed at establishing a multi-processible superhydrophobic coating suspension have been scarcely suggested. In this study, we suggest a facile method that allows the fabrication of the superhydrophobic surface that complies with superhydrophobicity, durability, and multiprocessibility simultaneously. This was achieved by properly engineering the formulation of the coating suspension and coating process. The coating suspension developed could be universally available to a wide range of coating processes including spraying, spin coating, brushing, flow coating, and even inkjet printing. This multiprocessible coating suspension led to facile integration of the superhydrophobic surface, regardless of the material and geometry of substrates. The superhydrophobic surface integrated into glass, the inner wall of tubing, and a printed pattern showed excellent superhydrophobic properties and decent durability. In particular, the patterned superhydrophobic surface exhibited the strong adsorption of fluorescence molecules, which is highly desirable for bioanalysis applications. By accompanying the multiprocessibility, our coating method may be able to facilitate the commercial viability of the superhydrophobic surface and expand its applications in various research fields as well.