Surfactant adsorption at superhydrophobic surfaces

Here the wetting of ionic and nonionic surfactant solutions on a superhydrophobic interface, obtained by using a mixed inorganic-organic coating providing a fractal-like structure, has been investigated to define the role of adsorption at these interfaces. The presence of the amphiphilic molecules is effective in lowering the contact angle in a hydrophobic or still superhydrophobic range. Influencing the adsorption properties by acting on the surfactant type and concentration, the spreading of a drop on the surface can be controlled by amphiphiles confining its volume in a restricted space. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.