Volume 146, 2010

Transparent superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic coatings

Abstract

We report a facile process for fabrication of transparent superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic surfaces through assembly of silica nanoparticles and sacrificial polystyrene nanoparticles. The silica and polystyrene nanoparticles are first deposited by a layer-by-layer assembly technique. The polystyrene nanoparticles are then removed by calcination, which leaves a porous network of silica nanoparticles. The cavities created by the sacrificial polystyrene particles form overhang structures on the surfaces. Modified with a fluorocarbon molecule, such surfaces are superhydrophobic and transparent. They also repel liquids with low surface tensions, such as hexadecane, due to the overhang structures that prevent liquids from getting into the air pockets even though the intrinsic contact angles of these liquids are less than 90°.

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Feb 2010
Accepted
22 Feb 2010
First published
27 Apr 2010

Faraday Discuss., 2010,146, 57-65

Transparent superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic coatings

L. Cao and D. Gao, Faraday Discuss., 2010, 146, 57 DOI: 10.1039/C003392H

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