Figure 1
From: Polyoxometalate-based microcrystal arrays patterned on air-grid superwettable surface
The dewetting process of POM mother liquid on air-grid superwettable surface. The water contact angles (left) and scheme view (right) of employed substrates for fabricating POM crystal arrays, including (a) original flat substrate with hydrophilic property and (b) PFOS-modified pillar template with superhydrophobic property. (c) Schematic illustration and (d) corresponding optical images of in situ dewetting process of POM mother liquid on air-grid superwettable surface. Firstly, a thin POM liquid film can be observed between hydrophilic flat substrate and superhydrophobic pillar-structured template. Then, individual POM microdroplet can be observed on the top of each pillar (black circle) by splitting the continuous liquid film through air pocket between pillars. With the further shrinkage of liquid, POM crystals could be concentrated from these microdroplets. After gently removing pillar-structured template, the patterned POM crystal arrays could be transferred onto the flat substrate. Scale bars, 40 µm.
