Y T Cheng et al 2006 Nanotechnology 17 1359 doi:10.1088/0957-4484/17/5/032
Y T Cheng1,4, D E Rodak2, C A Wong3 and C A Hayden3
Show affiliationsWhen rain falls on lotus leaves water beads up with a high contact angle. The water drops promptly roll off the leaves, collecting dirt along the way. This self-cleaning ability or lotus effect has, in recent years, stimulated much research effort worldwide for a variety of applications ranging from self-cleaning window glasses, paints, and fabrics to low friction surfaces. What are the mechanisms giving rise to the lotus effect? Although chemical composition and surface structure are believed important, a systematic experimental investigation of their effects is still lacking. By altering the surface structure of the leaves while keeping their chemical composition approximately the same, we report in this study the influence of micro- and nano-scale structures on the wetting behaviour of lotus leaves. The findings of this work may help design self-cleaning surfaces and improve our understanding of wetting mechanisms.
68.35.B- Structure of clean surfaces (and surface reconstruction)
68.03.Cd Surface tension and related phenomena
61.46.-w Structure of nanoscale materials
82.80.-d Chemical analysis and related physical methods of analysis
Soft matter, liquids and polymers
Surfaces, interfaces and thin films
Issue 5 (14 March 2006)
Received 12 October 2005
Published 10 February 2006
Y T Cheng et al 2006 Nanotechnology 17 1359
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