Issue 100, 2016

Facile fabrication of robust superhydrophobic surfaces: comparative investigation

Abstract

Superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces have various unique and important properties, including extreme water-repellency, self-cleaning, anti-icing and cell repellency. The range of applications and the interest in these surfaces have increased enormously during the last years. To obtain superhydrophobicity a surface requires both micro- and nano-scale roughness and a low surface energy coating. During the last 15 years many methods have been published to produce SH surfaces. Most of the methods described in the literature require multiple steps and harsh conditions. In addition, the comparability of the distinct studies is challenging, due to the fact that the produced surfaces were not characterized with sufficiently standardized parameters and methods. A comparative study with a wide space of parameters, characterizing both the method and the surface properties, could be helpful to find the right functionalization method for a certain application. The goal of this study was to compare the most facile methods for the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces. We selected eight coating methods and characterized produced surfaces in respect of water contact angles (WCAs) (static, advancing, receding), sliding angle, mechanical stability, stability in water/buffer/solvent, transparency and micro/nano surface topography.

Graphical abstract: Facile fabrication of robust superhydrophobic surfaces: comparative investigation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Sep 2016
Accepted
10 Oct 2016
First published
10 Oct 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2016,6, 98257-98266

Facile fabrication of robust superhydrophobic surfaces: comparative investigation

R. M. Bär, S. Widmaier and P. A. Levkin, RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 98257 DOI: 10.1039/C6RA22336B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements