| Abstract Scope |
Gecko toepads serve as a biological model for developing advanced artificial dry adhesives, which outperform traditional tape solutions with their strong adhesion, easy detachment, and self-cleaning properties. This project aims to examine how the shape and geometry of wedge-shaped micro-pillars influence adhesive performance, mimicking the anisotropic units of gecko setae. Using a nanoscale 3D printer by Nanoscribe, various designs, including rectangular, inverted, triangular, inverted half-elliptical, and half-elliptical shapes, were created with vertically aligned pillars of different sizes. The adhesive properties were tested with an atomic force microscope (Bruker Corporation), focusing on individual micropillars and arrays to analyze how contact shape, spacing, and distribution affect adhesion. The adhesive performance and mechanical properties of each design were assessed through force curves, employing three special AFM probes across six different micropillar array designs to ensure comprehensive performance evaluation at both individual and array levels. |