Gradient Surfaces

Recent research involving solid / liquid interfaces

Some of the recent research involving the group of Glen McHale, Gary Wells and Rodrigo Ledesma-Aguilar who are now at the University of Edinburgh has been on superhydrophobic surfaces, inspired by the Lotus leaf and other superhydrophobic adaptations of plants and animals. More recently, they have started looking at water-shedding surfaces, inspired by the Nepenthes pitcher plant. They have also moved beyond work inspired by nature by looking at ways in which wetting can be controlled in ways that are not available to the natural world, such as through application of an electric field or voltage.

Follow the links below to see some of their recent work.