Electrically modulated adhesive hydrophobicity for patterning various microstructures

Abstract In this study, we present an approach for patterning various microstructures using modulated electric-field. Experimentally, electrical potential was applied to the water droplet on the micropillar or microhole array textured dielectric surfaces, contact state transition could occur from Cassie-Baxter mode to Wenzel mode, and therefore enhance the adhesive hydrophobic property. The liquid droplet would spread over the microstructure dielectric surface and fill up the asperities around the micropillar or microhole array structures, which was indicated clearly by UV-curable polymer deformation under electric-field and solidification under UV irradiation. By this means, microstructures of UV-curable polymer with various morphologies including microlens, microbump and micropillar array structures could be generated by tuning the applied voltage.