Highly Reliable Superhydrophobic Surface with Carbon Nanotubes Immobilized on a PDMS/Adhesive Multilayer

We propose a new superhydrophobic surface that contains a carbon nanotube (CNT)-implanted poly­(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/adhesive multilayer. The adhesive provides very strong adhesion between the CNT-implanted PDMS layer and the substrate, and the CNTs on the surface exhibit superhydrophobicity. Therefore, the CNT-implanted PDMS/adhesive (CIPA) layer provides a highly reliable surface for superhydrophobicity. The fabricated CIPA surface performs far better than previously reported surfaces in terms of stability tests, such as contamination and solvent tests, and physical contact, including thermal pressure, bending, adhesion, and water jet tests. If a portion of the CIPA surface is destroyed, the surface is immediately restored because the material can regenerate the surface to its initial state. The surface can therefore maintain its superhydrophobicity even when damaged in rough environments, without self-healing or additional repair. Furthermore, because the adhesive is sprayed and coated on the surface of the substrate, a CIPA surface can be formed on three-dimensional shapes, including curved surfaces, and on various substrates.