RMS roughness-independent tuning of surface wettability by tailoring silver nanoparticles with a fluorocarbon plasma polymer.
A layer of 14 nm-sized Ag nanoparticles undergoes complex transformation when overcoated by thin films of a fluorocarbon plasma polymer. Two regimes of surface evolution are identified, both with invariable RMS roughness. In the early regime, the plasma polymer penetrates between and beneath the nanoparticles, raising them above the substrate and maintaining the multivalued character of the surface roughness. The growth (β) and the dynamic (1/z) exponents are close to zero and the interface bears the features of self-affinity. The presence of inter-particle voids leads to heterogeneous wetting with an apparent water contact angle θa= 135°. The multivalued nanotopography results in two possible positions for the water droplet meniscus, yet strong water adhesion indicates that the meniscus is located at the lower part of the spherical nanofeatures. In the late regime, the inter-particle voids become filled and the interface acquires a single valued character. The plasma polymer proceeds to grow on the thus-roughened surface whereas the nanoparticles keep emerging away from the substrate. The RMS roughness remains invariable and lateral correlations propagate with 1/z = 0.27. The surface features multiaffinity which is given by different evolution of length scales associated with the nanoparticles and with the plasma polymer. The wettability turns to the homogeneous wetting state.
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0582-5453
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Choukourov
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Kylián
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Petr
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Vaidulych
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Nikitin
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Hanuš
Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Artemenko
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Shelemin
Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Cukrovarnická 10, 16200 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Gordeev
J. E. Purkyne University, Faculty of Science, České mládeže 8, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
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Kolská
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Solař
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Surface and Plasma Science, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Khalakhan
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Ryabov
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Májek
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Slavínská
Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Macromolecular Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic. choukourov@kmf.troja.mff.cuni.cz.
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Biederman