Super oil-repellent surfaces from conductive polymers

Abstract

Obtaining superoleophobicity is a difficult challenge due to the low surface tension of oils. Here, a highly fluorinated 3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole monomer was synthesized by a multi-step reaction and employed for the elaboration of superoleophobic films by electrochemical polymerization (one-pot method, mild conditions). The study of the wettability and the morphology of the films as a function of electrochemical parameters (deposition charge, monomer concentration, nature of the doping anion, nature of the substrate) were performed by surface analysis using static and dynamic contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and optical profilometry. The unconventional nanoporous morphology obtained is favorable to the Cassie–Baxter state and may be a key factor for the elaboration of superoleophobic surfaces.