Unidirectional Wetting Properties on Multi-Bioinspired Magnetocontrollable Slippery Microcilia

Abstract

Here, a smart fluid-controlled surface is designed, via the rational integration of the unique properties of three natural examples, i.e., the unidirectional wetting behaviors of butterfly's wing, liquid-infused "slippery" surface of the pitcher plant, and the motile microcilia of micro-organisms. Anisotropic wettability, lubricated surfaces, and magnetoresponsive microstructures are assembled into one unified system. The as-prepared surface covered by tilted microcilia achieves significant unidirectional droplet adhesion and sliding. Regulating by external magnet field, the directionality of ferromagnetic microcilia can be synergistically switched, which facilitates a continuous and omnidirectional-controllable water delivery. This work opens an avenue for applications of anisotropic wetting surfaces, such as complex-flow distribution and liquid delivery, and extend the design approach of multi-bioinspiration integration.

Keywords: bioinspired materials; liquid infused; magnetocontrollable; microcilia.