Focus: Thin-film peeling is not always smooth

www.physics.aps.org, 6 June 2014 – ...A theory explaining how gecko spatulae and other thin films adhere to perfectly smooth surfaces has existed for several decades. More recent work has extended the explanation to surfaces with micrometer- and nanometer-sized bumps and grooves. Researchers have also examined the process of peeling a film off of a bumpy surface, which could lead to the development of adhesive tape that mimics gecko feet, for example. Read more