Towards optimization of patterned superhydrophobic surfaces

Experimental and theoretical study of wetting properties of patterned Si surfaces with cylindrical flat-top pillars of various sizes and pitch distances is presented. The values of the contact angle (CA), contact angle hysteresis (CAH) and tilt angle (TA) are measured and compared with the theoretical values. Transition from the composite solid-liquid-air to the homogeneous solid-liquid interface is investigated. It is found that the wetting behaviour of a patterned hydrophobic surface depends upon a simple non-dimensional parameter, the spacing factor, equal to the pillar diameter divided by the pitch. The spacing factor controls the CA, CAH and TA in the composite interface regime, as well as destabilization and transition to the homogeneous interface. We show that the assumption that the CAH is a consequence of the adhesion hysteresis and surface roughness leads to the theoretical values of the CAH that are in a reasonably good agreement with the experimental values. By decreasing the spacing factor, the values of CA=170 degrees, CAH=5 degrees and TA=3 degrees are achieved. However, with further decreasing of the spacing factor, the composite interface destabilizes.