Patternable, Multifunctional Superwettable Surface with Micro/Nanostructures by Polydimethylsiloxane Polymer‐Assisted Laser Direct Writing

ABSTRACT Patternable, multifunctional superwettable (superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic) surfaces are becoming a rapidly developing research hotspot. However, the current methods for preparing patternable superwettable surfaces basically suffer from complex preparation methods, high cost, and high pollution. Herein, a simple strategy for rapidly preparing patternable superwettable copper layers by one‐step polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer‐assisted laser direct writing (LDW) is proposed. The PDMS/copper sheet interface LDW process results in the decomposition of PDMS and generates a silicon‐containing material layer onto the copper sheet surface. The morphologies and chemical groups (bonds) of the silicon‐containing material layer on the copper sheet surface are different depending on the number of interface LDW. In addition, the silicon‐containing material layer on the surface can be removed by surface LDW. By adjusting the number of interface LDW and surface LDW, one superhydrophobic layer and two types of superhydrophilic layers are obtained on the surface of the copper sheet. Applications, such as heterogeneous wettability patterns, non‐contact liquid manipulation, anti‐/de‐icing, and light‐driven microrobots, are realized using the prepared superwettable copper layers. Our proposed strategy is simple, eco‐friendly, and can be prepared on a large scale, providing clear guidelines for preparing a superwettable surface dominated by silicon‐containing materials by LDW.