Table 1.

Summary of membrane surface patterning methods.

Description of Patterning Method	Advantage	Disadvantage	Ref.
EM is a stamping of a rigid patterned master mold under high pressures and temperatures and pressure on the polymer surface to replicate a negative of the master mold patterns	Good resolution High speed	High energy consumption Simple shapes only Low fidelity	[33]
PSmM involves phase inversion to shape the pattern from a liquid dope solution which precipitates into the solid phase on the pattern features of a master mold.	Good resolution Easy to control	Slow Simple shapes only Low fidelity	[46]
3D printing constructs the pattern structure through layer-by-layer deposition according to the input 3D model.	Free of geometry Easy to control High fidelity	Limited polymers Moderate resolution	[47]
Inkjet printing deposits the droplet of solution jet to form a 3D pattern solidified due to solvent evaporation	Easy to control High fidelity	Limited application Moderate resolution	[28]
SCmM casts a Nafion polymer solution onto a master mold, and when it solidifies, the solid pattern is formed as the negative of the master mold.	Easy to control Good resolution	Poor fidelity Limited application	[48]

EM: embossing micromolding, PSmM: phase separation micromolding, SCmM: solution casting micromolding, 3D: three-dimensional.