A beetle-inspired solution for underwater adhesion.

Glue-free reversible adhesion was achieved underwater using a beetle-inspired mushroom-shaped fibrillar microstructure. Structured surfaces reveal a 25% increase in pull-off force when immersed in water and their underwater attachment is 20 times more effective than that of flat surfaces. The van der Waals interaction that underlies the adhesion of the mushroom-shaped fibrillar microstructure is significantly enhanced by a suction effect when underwater. This results in a higher adhesive capability of the material, with potential in medicine, bio- and marine technologies and a range of applications in liquid-dominated environments.