Superhydrophobic aligned polystyrene nanotube films with high adhesive force

The water contact angle of nanostructured polystyrene surfaces can reach as high as 162 degrees, compared with 95 degrees for native polystyrene surfaces, and they possess a high water adhesion force. Surfaces coated with polystyrene nanotubes (see Figure) created using an alumina membrane template mimic the keratinous hairs in a gecko's feet, providing a large surface area for adhesion through van der Waals' forces.