Metamorphic Superomniphobic Surfaces

Superomniphobic surfaces are extremely repellent to virtually all liquids. By combining superomniphobicity and shape memory effect, metamorphic superomniphobic (MorphS) surfaces that transform their morphology in response to heat are developed. Utilizing the MorphS surfaces, the distinctly different wetting transitions of liquids with different surface tensions are demonstrated and the underlying physics is elucidated. Both ex situ and in situ wetting transitions on the MorphS surfaces are solely due to transformations in morphology of the surface texture. It is envisioned that the robust MorphS surfaces with reversible wetting transition will have a wide range of applications including rewritable liquid patterns, controlled drug release systems, lab-on-a-chip devices, and biosensors.