title: Preparation of superhydrophobic coatings on zinc, silicon, and steel by a solution-immersion technique.
abstract: Zinc, silicon, and steel superhydrophobic surfaces were prepared by a simple solution-immersion technique. In the case of zinc, the method consists of dipping of the substrate in a prehydrolyzed methanol solution of 1H,1H,2H,2H-(perfluorooctyl)trichlorosilane [CF(3)(CF(2))(5)(CH(2))(2)SiCl(3), PFTS] for 24 h at 50 degrees C. Micron-sized spheres (1.7-2 microm in diameter) were formed on the zinc substrate at 50 degrees C, while a featureless coating was obtained when the solution-immersion process was conducted at room temperature. When the reaction was performed at room temperature, the formation of superhydrophobic coatings took several days (up to 5 days). In contrast, immersion of silicon or steel substrates in the PFTS/methanol solution led to the formation of hydrophobic interfaces even for a prolonged immersion period at 50 degrees C. The formation of superhydrophobic surfaces on silicon and steel surfaces was only possible if a zinc foil was added in the PFTS/methanol solution containing the silicon or steel substrate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was used to characterize the resulting surfaces and to underline a plausible reaction mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire (USR-3078), Parc de la Haute Borne, 50 Avenue de Halley, BP 70478, 59658 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
authors.forename: Hongqin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szunerits
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pisarek
authors.forename: Wenguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Rabah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boukherroub
mesh_terms: D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D008956:Models, Chemical; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013232:Steel / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D013232:Steel; D015032:Zinc; D012825:Silicon