Direct synthesis of electrowettable nanostructured hybrid diamond

Abstract

The possibilities of precise control over the wetting characteristics of carbon-based hybrid nanostructures consisting of both sp² and sp³ hybridized carbons using the electrowetting technique were demonstrated. An excellent polarity-dependent electrowetting behavior in the presence of an electrolyte followed an abrupt transition from the highly hydrophobic (contact angle ∼ 142°) Cassie–Baxter states to a hydrophilic (∼30°) Wenzel state, where diamond films acted as the anode. In addition, we also reported a remarkable transition from weakly hydrophobic to nearly superhydrophobic diamond nanostructures by chemical and morphological manipulations. The unique structural properties with precisely tailored morphology and surface roughness enabled such transitions on the nanostructured surface. This approach of preparing environmental stable hydrophobic surfaces with polarity-dependent wetting and precise control of the wetting mode transition could be used in numerous applications such as the electrochemical transport of liquids, supercapacitors, and low-friction microfluidics.