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Abstract:The microstructure, hydrophobicity and chemical composition of the moth and locust wing surfaces were investigated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a video-based contact angle (CA) meter and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). The hydrophobicity models were established on the basis of the Cassie-Baxter equation. The locust and moth wing surfaces are composed of naturally hydrophobic materials, but exhibit different complex wettability. The locust wing surface is of extremely high adhesion (sliding angle>180°) and superhydrophobicity (contact angle 150.8~156.8°), while the moth wing surface is of low adhesion (sliding angle 1~5°) and superhydrophobicity (contact angle 150.2~154.1°). The complex wettability of the wing surfaces ascribes to the cooperative effect of material element and structural element. The locust and moth wings can be potentially used as biomimetic templates for design and preparation of novel functional interface and no-loss microfluidic transport channels.

Abstract:The special wettability and micro/nano-structure of locust wing were investigated by a video-based contact angle (CA) meter and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The wetting mechanism was discussed from the perspective of biological coupling. Locust wings were used as biomimetic templates to fabricate multi-functional polymer (PDMS, polydimethylsiloxane) films by soft lithography. The natural wing surface exhibits hierarchical micro/nano-structures and high adhesive superhydrophobicity, the water CA is 152°, the water sliding angle (SA) is higher than 180°. The prepared polymer film reproduces faithfully the surface microstructures of the bio-template, and displays a good hydrophobicity and high adhesion (CA 148°, SA>180°). The complex wettability of the natural and artificial locust wing surfaces ascribes to the coupling effect of material element (hydrophobic composition) and structural element (rough micro-morphology). Locust wing can be employed as a biomimetic template for design and fabrication of special functional surface.