PATTERNED HYDROPHILIC-OLEOPHILIC METAL OXIDE COATING AND METHOD OF FORMING

摘要

A metal oxide coating (18) has a nanotextured surface (22) defined by a plurality of capillary openings (20) arranged in a pattern on the surface of the coating (18). Each of the capillary openings (20) have a diameter defined by a previously present organic macromolecule (10). The metal oxide coating (18) is formed by depositing a solution containing uniformly dispersed micelles (10) composed of amphiphilic molecules (12) on a metal, oxide, or plastic substrate (16). The micelles (10) are self-arranging, in solution, as a result of mutually repulsive electrostatic forces on the surface of the micelles (10), and form a uniformly patterned organic template (14) when the solution is deposited on the surface of the substrate (16). A metal oxide coating is then applied to the substrate (16), which forms a ceramic monolayer that is a negative image of the organic template (14). The organic template (14) is then removed, thereby forming a metal oxide coating (18) having a plurality of macromolecular-sized apertures (20) formed therein.