Communication

The Salvinia Paradox: Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Hydrophilic Pins for Air Retention Under Water

  1. Wilhelm Barthlott1,*,
  2. Thomas Schimmel2,3,*,
  3. Sabine Wiersch1,
  4. Kerstin Koch4,
  5. Martin Brede5,*,
  6. Matthias Barczewski2,3,
  7. Stefan Walheim2,3,
  8. Aaron Weis2,3,
  9. Anke Kaltenmaier2,3,
  10. Alfred Leder5,
  11. Holger F. Bohn1

Article first published online: 28 APR 2010

DOI: 10.1002/adma.200904411

Issue

Advanced Materials

Advanced Materials

Volume 22, Issue 21, pages 2325–2328, June 4, 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Barthlott, W., Schimmel, T., Wiersch, S., Koch, K., Brede, M., Barczewski, M., Walheim, S., Weis, A., Kaltenmaier, A., Leder, A. and Bohn, H. F. (2010), The Salvinia Paradox: Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Hydrophilic Pins for Air Retention Under Water. Advanced Materials, 22: 2325–2328. doi: 10.1002/adma.200904411

Author Information

  1. 1

    Nees-Institut für Biodiversität der Pflanzen Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn (Germany)

  2. 2

    Institute of Applied Physics and Center for Functional Nanostructures (CFN) University of Karlsruhe Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) 76131 Karlsruhe (Germany)

  3. 3

    Institute of Nanotechnology and Center for Functional Nanostructures (CFN) Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) 76021 Karlsruhe (Germany)

  4. 4

    Biologie und Nanobiotechnologie Hochschule Rhein-Waal Landwehr 4, 47533 Kleve (Germany)

  5. 5

    Lehrstuhl Strömungsmechanik Fakultät für Maschinenbau und Schiffstechnik Universität Rostock Albert-Einstein-Straße 2, 18059 Rostock (Germany)

*Nees-Institut für Biodiversität der Pflanzen Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Meckenheimer Allee 170, 53115 Bonn (Germany).

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 31 MAY 2010
  2. Article first published online: 28 APR 2010
  3. Manuscript Received: 23 DEC 2009

Funded by

  • German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
  • German Research Foundation (DFG)
  • Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg

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Keywords:

  • Air retention;
  • Drag reduction;
  • Salvinia effect;
  • Superhydrophobic surfaces

Graphical Abstract

Thumbnail image of graphical abstract

A novel mechanism for long-term air retention under water is found in the sophisticated surface design of the water fern Salvinia. Its floating leaves are evenly covered with complex hydrophobic hairs retaining a layer of air when submerged under water. Surprisingly the terminal cells of the hairs are hydrophilic. These hydrophilic patches stabilize the air layer by pinning the air–water interface. This “Salvinia Effect” provides an innovative concept to develop biomimetic surfaces with long-term air-retention capabilities for under water applications. © Martin Oeggerli / www.Micronaut.ch, original SEM scan by Prof. Barthlott.

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