Wetting properties on nanostructured surfaces of cicada wings

Mingxia Sun; Gregory S Watson; Yongmei Zheng; Jolanta A Watson; Aiping Liang

doi:10.1242/jeb.033373

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Wetting properties on nanostructured surfaces of cicada wings

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Wetting properties on nanostructured surfaces of cicada wings

Mingxia Sun, Gregory S Watson, Yongmei Zheng, Jolanta A Watson and Aiping Liang

Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol.212(19), pp.3148-3155

2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.033373

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Abstract

Biological Sciences

Medical and Health Sciences

cicada

forewing

nanostructure

chemistry

hydrophobicity

This study has investigated the wettability of forewings of 15 species of cicadas, with distinctly different wetting properties related to their nanostructures. The wing surfaces exhibited hydrophilic or weak to strong hydrophobic properties with contact angles ranging from 76.8 deg. to 146.0 deg. The nanostructures (protrusions), observed using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), were classified into four types according to the patterning, diameter (82-148 nm), spacing (44-117 nm) and height (159-446 nm). Surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed significant differences in wing membrane chemistry. Thus, wetting properties at the macroscopic scale were dependent on slight differences in nanoscale architecture and composition of the wax layer. This investigation offers insights into the diversity of nanostructuring and how subtle small-scale changes may facilitate large changes in wettability.

Details

Title: Wetting properties on nanostructured surfaces of cicada wings
Authors: Mingxia Sun (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Gregory S Watson (Author) - James Cook University
Yongmei Zheng (Author) - James Cook University
Jolanta A Watson (Author) - James Cook University
Aiping Liang (Author) - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Publication details: Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol.212(19), pp.3148-3155
Publisher: Company of Biologists Ltd.
Date published: 2009
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.033373
ISSN: 0022-0949
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449606402621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Biology; Zoology

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