title: Branched Hydrocarbon Low Surface Energy Materials for Superhydrophobic Nanoparticle Derived Surfaces.
abstract: We present a new class of superhydrophobic surfaces created from low-cost and easily synthesized aluminum oxide nanoparticles functionalized carboxylic acids having highly branched hydrocarbon (HC) chains. These branched chains are new low surface energy materials (LSEMs) which can replace environmentally hazardous and expensive fluorocarbons (FCs). Regardless of coating method and curing temperature, the resulting textured surfaces develop water contact angles (θ) of ∼155° and root-mean-square roughnesses (Rq) ≈ 85 nm, being comparable with equivalent FC functionalized surfaces (θ = 157° and Rq = 100 nm). The functionalized nanoparticles may be coated onto a variety of substrates to generate different superhydrophobic materials.
authors.affiliation: Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), Swansea University Bay Campus , Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8EN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eastoe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nanohealth (CNH), College of Engineering, Swansea University , Singleton Park, SA2 8PP Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alex M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.affiliation: Group Surfaces & Interfaces, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis and CNRS, LPMC , Parc Valrose, 06100 Nice, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guittard
authors.affiliation: Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), Swansea University Bay Campus , Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8EN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Barron
keywords: alumina nanoparticles; fluorinated acids; hyperbranched carboxylic acids; low surface energy materials; superhydrophobic hydrocarbon surfaces