A Surface with Superoleophilic-to-Superoleophobic Wettability Gradient

A strategy combining polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) deposition and counterion exchange was developed to fabricate wettability gradient surfaces on rough aluminum with wetting characters continuously varied from superoleophilic to superoleophobic. Counterion exchange kinetics was adopted as a means to tailor the surface chemical composition spatially, with the gradient ultimately reflecting position-dependent immersion time during the dipping of substrate in salt solution. Wettability depended on the identity and concentration of the counterion in the outermost PEM layer. Gradients could be erased and rewritten through the exchange of counterions, and the gradient’s wetting character was evaluated by measuring both water and oil contact angles. The surface chemical composition gradient was further investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.