Multiaxial Superomniphobic Hyperbola Structures for Self-Cleaning Properties in Solar Cells

By mimicking naturally occurring surfaces, researchers have successfully created superomniphobic surfaces even from intrinsically wetting materials. While structured surfaces like mushrooms or inverse trapezoids have exhibited superomniphobicity, generating a robust surface capable of repelling liquids from a lateral direction has remained a challenge. In this study, we leverage capillary forces for the facile manufacture of a robust surface with lateral repellency, featuring a hyperbola-star-grid structure inspired by the skin of a springtail insect. Our results demonstrate that this structure maintains its repellent functionality even when subjected to abrasion and lateral liquid exposure. Moreover, the surface encapsulates air when fully submerged in low surface energy liquids. Additionally, successful encapsulation of a 50 μm Si thin film solar cell enhances its flexibility and increases Power Conversion Efficiency through the light trapping principle, while imparting the self-cleaning properties to the cell.