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Generation of Hierarchical Topologies from Photocrosslinkable, Particle‐Stabilized Emulsions
Author(s) -
Benkoski Jason J.,
Hu Hua,
Karim Alamgir
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200600272
Subject(s) - monomer , lotus effect , materials science , particle (ecology) , polymer , nanotechnology , phase (matter) , chemical engineering , surface (topology) , composite material , polymer science , chemistry , organic chemistry , raw material , oceanography , engineering , geology , geometry , mathematics
Summary: We describe a way to obtain biomimetic, hierarchical surface morphologies. In order to mimic natural surfaces more accurately such as lotus leaves and gecko feet, we employ a strategy that bears many of the attractive characteristics of natural materials synthesis. The system in question consists of a photocurable monomer and water. To this quasi‐two‐component system we add polymer latex spheres. The monomer–water interface is then manipulated according to the well‐established science of complex fluids. Drawing from the rich phase behavior of particle‐stabilized emulsions, we demonstrate the creation of complex biomimetic morphologies over many length scales. The resulting structures are then solidified by crosslinking the monomer with UV light.Comparison of an AFM image of a PMMA colloidosome assembly with that of the textured surface of a superhydrophobic Hygoryza aristata leaf (inset).