Manufacturing of superhydrophobic surfaces combining nanosphere lithography with replication techniques

We report on the manufactruring of plastic parts with tailored wettabilities by means of replication techniques. Nanostructured molds have been fabricated by combining nanosphere lithography with standard microfabrication processes. All processes were upscale to produce homogeneous structures over large areas (hundreds of mm²). The replication masters have then been used for the production of nanostructrued plastic parts using UV nanoimprint, hot embossing and injection molding. An approriate design of the nanostructures leads to plastic parts having superhydrophobic/philic surfaces.