Facile One-Step Photolithographic Method for Engineering Hierarchically Nano/Microstructured Transparent Superamphiphobic Surfaces

It is of great value to develop a simple, controllable, and scalable method of making superamphiphobic surfaces. Here we present a facile one-step photolithographic method to engineer superamphiphobic surfaces consisting of photoresist micropillars decorated with nanoparticles of the same photoresist. The surface or coating is optically transparent and versatile, and can be fabricated on a broad range of substrates including stretchable elastomers. During the development of the micropillar array, photoresist nanoparticles are spontaneously grown on the micropillars by a well-controlled emulsification process of the un-cross-linked residual photoresist. This creates a hierarchical structure with a re-entrant and convex morphology which is the key for superoleophobicity. The chemical bonding between the nanoparticles and the micropillars is strong producing a robust and durable coating. This facile method is scalable and industry-applicable for a variety of applications such as self-cleaning, antifouling, and deicing/antifrosting.