Fabrication of a Hybrid Superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic Surface for Water Collection: Gravure Offset Printing & Colloidal Lithography

We demonstrate the desert beetle back mimicking hybrid superhydrophilic/superhydrophobic patterned surface by using the combination method of colloidal lithography and gravure offset printing for nano and micro patterning, respectively. The two methods are cost-effective and industrially available techniques compared to the other nano/micro patterning methods. To verify the water collecting function of the hybrid surface, the water condensation behavior is investigated on the chilled surface in ambient temperature and high humidity. Due to the synergetic effect of drop and film wise condensation, the hybrid superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic surface shows the higher efficiency than one of single wettability surfaces. The work is underway to get the good patterns of hybrid surfaces for water collecting from the dew or fog.