Reversibly adaptive rough micro- and nano-structures
AssigneesLucent Technologies Inc., The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
InventorsJoanna Aizenberg, Shu Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reversibly adaptive rough structures, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of raised elements on the substrate, the raised elements mutually spaced apart by channel regions on the substrate, each of the raised elements having a lateral surface and a distal end; the lateral surface, the distal end and the channel regions having hydrophobic molecules thereon; and the distal end having reversibly adaptive bristles thereon, the reversibly adaptive bristles being convertible between relatively hydrophilic and hydrophobic states by the application of an external stimulus. Techniques for making reversibly adaptive rough structures.
Claims20
A reversibly adaptive rough structure, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of raised elements on said substrate, said raised elements mutually spaced apart by channel regions on said substrate, each of said raised elements having a lateral surface and a distal end;
- said lateral surfaces, said distal ends and said channel regions having hydrophobic molecules thereon;
- and
- said distal ends having reversibly adaptive bristles thereon, said distal ends being selectively convertible from a relatively hydrophobic state to a relatively hydrophilic state by the application of an external stimulus while said lateral surfaces remain hydrophobic.
A process for making a reversibly adaptive rough structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate;
- providing a plurality of raised elements on said substrate, said raised elements mutually spaced apart by channel regions on said substrate, each of said raised elements having a lateral surface and a distal end;
- providing an adhesion layer on said raised elements and channel regions, said adhesion layer comprising a thiol-binding surface;
- binding hydrophobic molecules comprising thiol moieties onto said adhesion layer;
- binding reversibly adaptive bristles comprising thiol moieties onto said distal ends, said distal ends being selectively convertible from a relatively hydrophobic state to a relatively hydrophilic state by the application of an external stimulus while said lateral surfaces remain hydrophobic.
A process for making a reversibly adaptive rough structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate;
- providing a plurality of raised elements on said substrate, said raised elements mutually spaced apart by channel regions on said substrate, each of said raised elements having a lateral surface and a distal end;
- binding hydrophobic molecules onto said lateral surfaces, said distal ends and said channel regions;
- and
- binding reversibly adaptive bristles onto said distal ends, said distal ends being selectively convertible from a relatively hydrophobic state to a relatively hydrophilic state by the application of an external stimulus while said lateral surfaces remain hydrophobic.
A process for making a reversibly adaptive rough structure, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate;
- providing a plurality of raised elements on said substrate, said raised elements mutually spaced apart by channel regions defining channels on said substrate, each of said raised elements having a lateral surface and a distal end;
- filling said channels with sacrificial material;
- binding reversibly adaptive bristles onto said distal ends, said distal ends being selectively convertible from a relatively hydrophobic state to a relatively hydrophilic state by the application of an external stimulus while the lateral surfaces remain hydrophobic;
- removing said sacrificial material;
- and
- binding hydrophobic molecules onto said lateral surfaces, said distal ends and said channel regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.