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Abstract

We describe a new approach to fabricate polymeric materials with surface structures for applications as anti-reflective, anti-icing, superhydrophobic, superhydrophilic, de-wetting, and self-cleaning coatings. In some variations, a surface-textured layer comprises first microdomains and second microdomains each containing polymerized cross-linkable photomonomer, where the first microdomains have a higher average cross-link density than that of the second microdomains. The first microdomains and the second microdomains are in a peak-valley surface topology, providing surface texture with no filler particles. In some variations, a method to fabricate a surface-textured layer comprises: applying a cross-linkable photomonomer layer to a reflective substrate; exposing the photomonomer layer to a collimated light beam with no spatial variation, to initiate polymerization in first microdomains; and polymerizing other regions of the photomonomer layer to form second microdomains that are spatially separated from the first microdomains. The first microdomains have a higher average cross-link density compared to the second microdomains.

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First Claim