(Chin. J. Polym. Sci.) Intelligent Surfaces Thermally Switchable between the Highly Rough and Entirely Smooth States
writer：Wang, M.; Chu, D.; Liu, L.; Huang, S.; Chen, X.; Liu, Z.; Yang, H.*
keywords：Intelligent Surface
source：期刊
specific source：Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2021, 39, 1609-1616.
Issue time：2021年
Reversible switching from a highly rough surface to another entirely smooth surface under external stimuli is crucial for intelligent
materials applied in the fields of anti-fogging, self-cleaning, oil-water separation and biotechnology. In this work, a thermal-responsive liquid
crystal elastomer (LCE) surface covered with oriented micropillars is prepared via a facile two-step crosslinking method coupled with an extrusion
molding program. The reversible change of topological structures of the LCE surface along with temperature is investigated by metallographic
microscope, atomic force microscopy and optical contact angle measuring system. At room temperature, the LCE sample is filled with plenty of
micropillars with an average length of 8.76 μm, resulting in a super-hydrophobic surface with a water contact angle (WCA) of 135°. When the
temperature is increased to above the clearing point, all the micropillars disappear, the LCE surface becomes entirely flat and presents a
hydrophilic state with a WCA of 64°. The roughness-related wetting property of this microstructured LCE surface possesses good recyclability in
several heating/cooling cycles. This work realizes a truly reversible transformation from a highly rough surface to an entirely smooth surface, and
might promote the potential applications of this dynamic-responsive LCE surface in smart sensors and biomimetic control devices.