UV/Thermally Driven Rewritable Wettability Patterns on TiO2-PDMS Composite Films

Composite films of TiO2 and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are prepared by a sol-gel method, cured with UV irradiation, and then treated in hot water to crystallize the TiO2 in the film. The presence of anatase TiO2 contributes to the photoinduced superhydrophilicity of the film under UV irradiation. Contact angle studies reveal that the TiO2-PDMS composite film recovers its original hydrophobic state. Hydrophobic-superhydrophilic patterns are successfully formed on the films. The wettability patterns can be erased by UV irradiation and thermal treatment. New wettability patterns can be reconstructed, demonstrating that the film exhibits rewritable wettability without the need for organic chemicals.