Experimental determination of the efficiency of nanostructuring on non-wetting legs of the water strider

Watson, Gregory S., Cribb, Bronwen W., and Watson, Jolanta A. (2010) Experimental determination of the efficiency of nanostructuring on non-wetting legs of the water strider. Acta Biomaterialia, 6 (10). pp. 4060-4064.

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Abstract

Water striders demonstrate an amazing talent which enables them to effectively "row" across water surfaces without immobilization. This ability has previously been ascribed to the wax-like chemistry of the small hairs (setae) found on the legs, and theoretically attributed to the nano/microscaled hierarchical architecture of individual seta using the Cassie–Baxter equations. Here we show experimentally the strength of the contribution of the seta surface architecture to superhydrophobicity by maintaining identical surface chemistry (thin and thick coating of the setae with polydimethylsiloxane). Atomic force microscopy-based force and adhesion measurements of single uncoated and coated seta interacting with water quantitatively demonstrate the efficiency of the topographical component of the setae for repelling water.

Item ID: 15341
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1878-7568
Keywords: water strider; insect; atomic force microscopy; micro/nanostructures; anti-wetting
Date Deposited: 18 Feb 2011 06:54
FoR Codes: 02 PHYSICAL SCIENCES > 0299 Other Physical Sciences > 029901 Biological Physics @ 80%
03 CHEMICAL SCIENCES > 0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry > 030304 Physical Chemistry of Materials @ 20%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970102 Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences @ 40%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 40%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970103 Expanding Knowledge in the Chemical Sciences @ 20%
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