Biomimetic taro leaf-like films decorated on wood surfaces using soft lithography for superparamagnetic and superhydrophobic performance

• Published in: Journal of materials science 2017-06, Vol.52 (12), p.7428-7438
• Main Authors: Chen, Yipeng, Wang, Hanwei, Yao, Qiufang, Fan, Bitao, Wang, Chao, Xiong, Ye, Jin, Chunde, Sun, Qingfeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomimetics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Contact angle; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Dimethylpolysiloxane; Hydrophobic surfaces; Hydrophobicity; Integrated circuit fabrication; Iron oxides; Lithography; Magnetic properties; Magnetic saturation; Magnetization; Materials Science; Microwave absorption; Nanoparticles; Original Paper; Polydimethylsiloxane; Polymer Sciences; Silicone resins; Solid Mechanics; Surface chemistry; Taro
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-017-0976-y

The surfaces of plants represent multifunctional interfaces between the organisms and the environment. In this paper, biomimetic taro leaf-like structures with superparamagnetic and superhydrophobic performances were exactly copied on the wood surface through the soft lithography to improve the wood properties. Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were mixed into poly(dimethylsiloxane) PDMS suspensions to obtain Fe 3 O 4 /PDMS suspensions that commonly endow coats magnetic and microwave absorption properties, which were then cast onto the wood surface and packaged by PDMS stamps replicated from fresh taro leaves. Fe 3 O 4 /PDMS films, which coexisted superhydrophobic surface and superparamagnetic property, were created on the wood surface after the being dried and stamps were peeled off. The as-prepared wood surface exhibited unique taro leaf-like micro- and nanostructures, microwave absorption, superparamagnetism performances with maximum saturation magnetization ( M s ) of 22.9 emu g −1 and superior static superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 152° ± 2°. This research may provide a feasible pathway for constructing naturally biomorphic structures on the wood surface with tailored functions.