Replication of butterfly wing and natural lotus leaf structures by nanoimprint on silica sol-gel films.

An original and low cost method for the fabrication of patterned surfaces bioinspired from butterfly wings and lotus leaves is presented. Silica-based sol-gel films are thermally imprinted from elastomeric molds to produce stable structures with superhydrophobicity values as high as 160 degrees water contact angle. The biomimetic surfaces are demonstrated to be tuned from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic by annealing between 200 degrees C and 500 degrees C.

Biomimetism and bioinspiration as tools for the design of innovative materials and systems.

Materials found in nature combine many inspiring properties such as sophistication, miniaturization, hierarchical organizations, hybridation, resistance and adaptability. Elucidating the basic components and building principles selected by evolution to propose more reliable, efficient and environment-respecting materials requires a multidisciplinary approach.