Biomimetic Fabrication of Indicalamus-Leaf-Like Structured Copper Surface with Superhydrophobic Properties

Abstract

Some plant leaves possess a superhydrophobicity because of the exclusive structures on their surfaces. Many methods were developed to imitate the leaf structures in order to obtain the superhydrophobic copper. However, it is difficult to simulate the natural complex structures perfectly through the traditional methods. Here, we report a method to use an indicalamus leaf as a template to fabricate superhydrophobic biomorphic copper on a carbon substrate (Cu/C). This Cu/C retained the microstructures of the leaf well. It exhibited excellent superhydrophobicity after it was modified with fluorine silane. The water contact angles of the resulting products were >160°, which exceed that of the indicalamus leaf (158°). Its sliding angle was <5°.