Templated biomimetic multifunctional coatings

Abstract

We report a bioinspired templating technique for fabricating multifunctional optical coatings that mimic both unique functionalities of antireflective moth eyes and superhydrophobic cicada wings. Subwavelength-structured fluoropolymer nipple arrays are created by a soft-lithography-like process. The utilization of fluoropolymers simultaneously enhances the antireflective performance and the hydrophobicity of the replicated films. The specular reflectivity matches the optical simulation using a thin-film multilayer model. The dependence of the size and the crystalline ordering of the replicated nipples on the resulting antireflective properties have also been investigated by experiment and modeling. These biomimetic materials may find important technological application in self-cleaning antireflection coatings.

Beyond a Nature-inspired Lotus Surface: Simple Fabrication Approach Part I. Superhydrophobic and Transparent Biomimetic Glass Part II. Superamphiphobic Web of Nanofibers

“…Part I. Superhydrophobic and transparent biomimetic glass A combination of colloidal lithography and plasma etching is a good candidate to create well-ordered micro/nanostructured surfaces easily. In particular, superhydrophobic and transparent glass can be created using only nanobeads smaller than 100 nm to maintain the proper level of transparency [22]. Here, a combination of colloidal lithography and plasma etching is used to fabricate superhydrophobic and transparent glass.…”

Fabrication of Organic Solar Cells with Branched Cauliflower-Like Nano Structures as a Back Electrode Replicated from a Natural Template of Cicada Wing Patterns

“…Biotemplates have inspired scientists to make use of natural nanostructures and utilize their especial properties [20,22,23]. Natural surface nanostructures of cicada wing exhibit particular optical properties that originate from its specific surface geometry.…”

“…Template-based nanostructuring is one of the most promising nanometer-sized patterning techniques in OSCs [2,3,8,20,21]. Biotemplates have inspired scientists to make use of natural nanostructures and utilize their especial properties [20,22,23].…”

“…Natural surface nanostructures of cicada wing exhibit particular optical properties that originate from its specific surface geometry. Cicada wing including quasi-ordered surface nano-nipple arrays has been used as a replicable natural template [20,22,23]. Cicada wing has been employed as an antireflective and easily separable substrate from a deposited layer as a result of its low surface tension material that can serve naturally as an anti-sticking coating [22,24,25], and also as a light harvesting in photovoltaic devices [26].…”

Performance of "Moth Eye" Anti-Reflective Coatings for Solar Cell Applications

“…[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] This novel technology combines the simplicity and cost benefits of bottom-up colloidal self-assembly with the scalability and compatibility of standard top-down microfabrication. Although the capability of this nanofabrication technology in creating large-area broadband nanostructured ARCs has been demonstrated, [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] significant issues need to be addressed before the …”