Creation of coating surfaces possessing superhydrophobic and superoleophobic characteristics with fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomeric nanocomposites having biphenylene segments

Abstract

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomeric nanocomposites having biphenylene units [RF-(VM-SiO2)n-RF/Ar-SiO2] were prepared by the sol–gel reaction of the corresponding oligomer [RF-(VM)n-RF] with 4,4′-bis(triethoxysilyl)-1,1′-biphenyl [Ar-Si(OEt)3] under alkaline conditions. RF-(VM-SiO2)n-RF/Ar-SiO2 nanocomposites were applied to the surface modification of PMMA to exhibit not only a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine but also a fluorescent emission ability on the surface. Methanol sol solutions of RF-(VM-SiO2)n-RF/Ar-SiO2 nanocomposites were effective for the surface modification of glass through the dipping technique to exhibit good oleophobicity with superhydrophobicity on the modified glass surface. On the other hand, 1,2-dichloroethane sol solutions enabled RF-(VM-SiO2)n-RF/Ar-SiO2 nanocomposites to exhibit both superhydrophobic and superoleophobic characteristics on the modified surface through dipping the glass in these sol solutions.