Micro-structured surface having tailored wetting properties

1. A micro-structured surface immersed in a multiphase fluid mixture comprising a substrate having pores and a wetting liquid phase trapped in the pores, said wetting liquid phase being immiscible with all phases of the multiphase fluid mixture.

2. A micro-structured surface according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate receives a chemical treatment improving the wetting of the substrate by the wetting liquid phase.

3. A micro-structured surface according to claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a closed-cell network of micro-wells forming the pores made in the substrate.

4. A micro-structured surface according to claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises an open-cell network of micro-pillars forming the pores made on the substrate.

5. A micro-structured surface according to claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a combination of an open-cell network of micro-pillars and a closed-cell network of micro-wells forming the pores in the substrate.

6. A micro-structured surface according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is made of a material chosen in the group of material comprising silicon, silicon oxide, glass, metal, ceramic, sapphire, alumina, titanium oxide, fluorinated polymer, plastics, naturally porous material, mesh, and solid foam.

7. A micro-structured surface according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is covered with a coating film.

8. A micro-structured surface according to claim 7 , wherein the film is chosen among the group of film comprising fluoropolymer film, fluorocarbon film, photocatalytic film, titanium dioxide film, silicon dioxide film, and metal film.

9. A micro-structured surface according to claim 1 , wherein the wetting liquid phase is a fluorinated solvent.

10. A measuring device comprising: a micro-structured surface immersed in a multiphase fluid mixture comprising:

a substrate having pores and a wetting liquid phase trapped in the pores, said wetting liquid phase being immiscible with all phases of the multiphase fluid mixture.

11. A measuring device according to claim 10 , wherein the measuring device further comprises a radiation source for permanently or periodically activating the micro-structured surface by exposure to radiation.

12. A method of manufacturing a micro-structured surface having a controlled wetting property that is immersed in a multiphase fluid mixture comprising:

providing a micro-structured surface, and

trapping a wetting liquid phase within the micro-structured surface through a surface priming process

wherein the wetting liquid phase is immiscible with all phases of the multiphase fluid mixture.

13. A method of manufacturing a micro-structured surface according to claim 12 , wherein providing a micro-structured surface further comprises micro-structuring a substrate.

14. A method of manufacturing a micro-structured surface according to claim 13 , wherein providing a micro-structured surface consists in providing a naturally porous material.

15. A method of manufacturing a micro-structured surface according to claim 12 , wherein providing a micro-structured surface is further followed by conformal coating or film deposition.

16. A method of manufacturing a micro-structured surface according to claim 15 , wherein the coating or film having photocatalytic properties is activated upon exposure to a source of radiation.

17. A method of manufacturing a micro-structured surface according to claim 12 , wherein the surface priming process comprises:

submerging the micro-structured surface inside the wetting liquid phase,

pulling a vacuum by reducing an initial pressure enough so that the gas phases initially trapped in the micro-structured surface leaves the pores of the micro-structured surface; and

increasing the pressure to the initial pressure.

18. A method of manufacturing a micro-structured surface according to claim 17 , wherein the pressure reduction and increasing cycle is repeated several times.

19. A method of manufacturing a micro-structured surface according to claim 12 , wherein the surface priming process comprises:

putting the wetting liquid phase into contact with the micro-structured surface;

pressurizing the micro-structured surface and the wetting liquid phase such as to allow the gas phases initially trapped in the microstructure to diffuse into the liquid;

waiting a determined duration; and

decreasing the pressure to the initial pressure.