A novel preparation of polystyrene film with a superhydrophobic surface using a template method

Inspired by the self-cleaning superhydrophobic taro leaf, a polystyrene ( PS) film with superhydrophobic surface was obtained using a natural taro leaf as template. The water contact angle and the sliding angle of the superhydrophobic PS surface were 158 degrees +/- 1.6 degrees and 3 degrees, respectively. The PS surface was still superhydrophobic when contacting with black ink, fresh blood and even viscous glue water. SEM shows that the surface structure comprises many uniform papillae with the diameters ranging from 10 to 15 mu m, which is similar to the surface structure of natural taro leaf. Such a special surface morphology may result in the superhydrophobic property.