Reversible Switching of Water-Droplet Mobility on a Superhydrophobic Surface Based on a Phase Transition of a Side-Chain Liquid-Crystal Polymer

Reversible switching of the mobility of a water microdroplet between rollable and pinned simply by changing the temperature is realized by coordination of the phase transition of a side-chain liquid-crystal polymer (SCLCP) with optimized surface roughness of a superhydrophobic surface. The responsive surface has potential applications in microreactor design and microfluidic control systems.