Fabrication and characterization of tree-like nanorod arrays for bionic gecko foot-hairs

We report a method to fabricate polymer tree-like arrays for biomimetic gecko foot hairs by using a novel branched anodic aluminum oxide membrane as a template. The novel anodic aluminum oxide template with hierarchically branched nanochannel was fabricated by a modified several steps anodic oxidation process. The polymer tree-like arrays included polystyrene, polymethyl-methacrylat were obtained by a molding method in these branched nanochannel anodic aluminum oxide templates. The number of branching and dimensions can be controlled through branched nanochannel design and assembly. Pull-off force measurements were carried out to characterize the adhesive force of theses tree-like arrays based on the force-distance curves obtained from scanning probe microscope (SPM). These tree-like nanorod arrays will be utilized as novel biomimetic dry adhesives in future space, microelectronics, MEMS devices and robot.