Fabrication of artificial super-hydrophobic lotus-leaf-like bamboo surfaces through soft lithography

Abstract The surfaces of plants represent multifunctional interfaces between the organisms and the environment. The paper reports an experimental method to improve the bamboo properties, in terms of hydrophobicity, and resistance to water absorption. The soft lithography technique was used to modify the bamboo surface, transferring over it a lotus-leaf-like topography, based on a micro/nano hierarchical structure using fresh lotus leaves as the template and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for seal. Results describe a characterization based on topographical, chemical and water contact angle analysis. The super-hydrophobicity of lotus-like bamboo surfaces were analyzed by virtue of WCA and the microstructures observed by means of SEM, showing a WCA of 156.5° close to that of the lotus leaf’s 160.5°, and rough surface structures with micro-nano papillate hills on bamboo surfaces. Water droplets could easily roll down on such bamboo surfaces, exhibiting super-hydrophobic and low adhesion properties. The successful fabrication of lotus-leaf-like bamboos provided a new direction for researches on the water corrosion resistance of bamboos, which could effectively prevent the damage of moisture to bamboos.