title: (CH3)3SiCl/SiCl4 azeotrope grows superhydrophobic nanofilaments.
abstract: We describe the vapor-phase reaction (at room temperature and 40-45% relative humidity) of silicon wafers with the azeotropic mixture of trimethylchlorosilane and tetrachlorosilane. Water contact angle analysis indicates that surfaces become nearly perfectly hydrophobic (thetaA/thetaR > or =176 degrees/> or =176 degrees) after 2 min of reaction. SEM analysis at various reaction times shows the growth of nanofilaments with diameters of approximately 30 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of oxidized titanium surfaces that were exposed to the azeotrope vapor indicates that the product is derived from a approximately 10:1 ratio of SiCl4 and (CH3)3SiCl. A mechanism for filament growth is proposed.
authors: Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
authors: Lichao
authors: L
authors: Gao
authors: Thomas J
authors: TJ
authors: McCarthy