title: Hydrocarbon versus fluorocarbon in the electrodeposition of superhydrophobic polymer films.
abstract: To elaborate on superhydrophobic surfaces, we report the electrochemical synthesis, surface morphology, and wettability of hydrocarbon conductive polymer films obtained by the electrodeposition of polythiophene, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (i.e., PEDOT), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) (i.e., PEDOP) derivatives. Highly hydrophobic films were obtained from n-C(14)H(29) and n-C(8)H(17) chains in the cases of polythiophenes and PEDOP, respectively. By contrast, superhydrophobic films were formed by the deposition of PEDOT substituted with n-C(10)H(21) chains (PEDOT-methyl undecanoate): static contact angle ≈ 160.6°, hysteresis ≈ 2°, and sliding angle ≈ 3°. Their surface properties were compared to those of previously reported fluorinated analogues. The water-repellent properties of PEDOT-methyl undecanoate were similar to the best surface properties obtained with fluorinated monomers. Even if the main approach for the chemical factor to build up superhydrophobic surfaces is via a coating of a fluorinated compound, this work confirms that the formation of fractal surfaces is able to achieve super-anti-wetting properties within a hydrocarbon series (less expensive with a favorable ecotoxic approach), and it opens a new path to bioinspired surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Laboratoire de Chimie des Matériaux Organiques et Métalliques, Equipe Chimie Organique aux Interfaces, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Darmanin
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taffin de Givenchy
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amigoni
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guittard