Preparation of superhydrophobic, long-neck vase-like polymer surfaces

Polymer surfaces comprising nanopillars with various geometries were prepared by nanoimprinting the surface using anodic aluminium oxide templates. In particular, a simple fabrication method for long-neck vase-like stepped nanopillars was established, and the surface showed considerable enhancement in the water contact angle, for example from 95.7 degrees to 150.6 degrees for the polystyrene surface. This enhanced hydrophobicity could be explained by the desirable reduction in the area of the solid-liquid interface and reduced sticking between the nanopillars.