Underwater Thermoresponsive Surface with Switchable Oil-Wettability between Superoleophobicity and Superoleophilicity

Abstract

An underwater thermoresponsive surface that can switch between superoleophobicity and superoleophilicity is fabricated with a combination of mixed brushes, containing thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and underwater oleophilic heptadecafluorodecyltrimethoxysilane, and nanostructured silicon nanowire arrays. Temperature-induced underwater adhesion switching between low-adhesive superoleophobicity and high-adhesive superoleophobicity is achieved on a pure poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-modified nanostructured silicon nanowire array.