Research progress and development prospect of Nepenthes pitcher in engineering bionics field

Abstract

Nepenthes pitcher has evolved particular structures to effectively capture and digest insects to obtain sufficient growing nutrients. The pitcher can be typically distinguished by several parts depending on its difference in macro-morphology and micro-structure, including lid, peristome, slippery zone and digestive zone. The peristome consists of radial ridges, making liquid film generate a continuously unidirectional transport. The slippery zone contains structures with micro-nano scale parameters, presenting the properties of anti-attachment and superhydrophobicity. The structures and properties of the pitcher have attracted numerous studies and become the hot topic. In this review, based on the research progress of peristome and slippery zone in the engineering bionic field, the morphological structures and functional properties are introduced. Especially, the progress of the bionic fabrication of functional surfaces used in liquid film unidirectional transport, insect slippery trapping and superhydrophobicity is dis cussed, and several aspects that should be paid attention to in near future are highlighted. This review enriches the understanding of structures and properties of Nepenthes pitcher, and also provides the bionic ideas for fabricating functional surfaces.

Keywords

• engineering bionics
• Nepenthes pitcher
• peristome
• slippery zone
• superhydrophobicity surface
• unidirectional transport