Robust, repairable, high thermal conductance hydrophobic coatings

Abstract

A hybrid surface can have hydrophobic properties and high thermal conductance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid coating comprising:
 a plurality of structures on a substrate, the plurality of structures creating a void space; and   a polymer filling the void space.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures on a substrate are nanostructures on a surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures form a pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures on the substrate have a high thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures have a height from the substrate and the height is slightly larger than a depth of the polymer, the polymer does not extend beyond the height, or the height is slightly smaller than a depth of the polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is an acrylic polymer, a polyolefin, a hydrophobic polymer, a moderately hydrophilic polymer, a fluorinated polymer, or a siloxane. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures on the substrate are nanostructures on the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the void space is a porous structure on the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer substantially infuses the porous structure on the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is copper, aluminum or steel. 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid coating of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structures are pillars, micronails, nanoblades, parabolic structures, pyramidal structures, triangular structures, pins, walls or channels, cavities, inverse opal structures, or a reverse micronail. 
     
     
         12 . A method of altering the properties of a surface comprising:
 providing a plurality of structures on a substrate, the plurality of structures creating a void space; and   filling the void space with a polymer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising healing a defect in the surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising heating the substrate to soften the polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of structures on the substrate are nanostructures on the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of structures have a height from the substrate and the height is slightly larger than a depth of the polymer, the polymer does not extend beyond the height, or the height is slightly smaller than a depth of the polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the polymer is an acrylic polymer, a polyolefin, a hydrophobic polymer, a moderately hydrophilic polymer, a fluorinated polymer, or a siloxane. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the void space is a porous structure on the substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is copper, aluminum or steel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of structures are pillars, micronails, nanoblades, parabolic structures, pyramidal structures, triangular structures, pins, walls or channels, cavities, inverse opal structures, or a reverse micronail.