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A patterned surface with stimuli responsive properties attracts considerable interest for its importance in advanced engineering, partly due to its reversibility, easy design and control, good compatibility and responsive behavior to external stimuli. In this research, we have designed and fabricated a bilayer structure with a patterned surface which is capable of a dynamic on/off switching of a pattern responsive to the external compressive/tensile strain. A deformation map for describing the on/off switching of the void has been generated as a function of voids geometries (diameter, depth) and the applied strain. We have characterized the corresponding changes in the static and dynamic contact angles. Depending on the external mechanical inputs, we show that it is possible to control the droplet shape, its critical sliding angle, as well as its dynamics. The results provide a strategic solution on how to mimic the preferred pattern on a soft surface and to apply it in a micro-fluid environment, indicating a potential application as a liquid optical switch in a microfluidic device.

Supervisors

• Dr. Ben Bin Xu
• Prof. Glen McHale