Hydrophilic Dots on Hydrophobic Nanopatterned Surfaces as a Flexible Gas Barrier

Abstract

The present study demonstrates a transparent polymeric gas barrier film mimicking the Namib Desert beetle's back. SiO2 hydrophilic dots have been deposited on a nanopatterned hydrophobic surface. A nanopatterned surface was fabricated by UV-curable nanoimprinting techniques. The surface energies of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains were 7.29 and > 73.12 mN/m, respectively. The characteristics of water vapor transfer from hydrophobic to hydrophilic regions due to difference of the attractive force at interfaces are shown to yield the enhanced barrier performance according to the Ca degradation measurements. This strategy is suitable for organic electronics, solar cells, and plastic optics applications requiring moisture-free properties with high transmission.