Cross-Linked Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Composite Films for One-Step Fabrication of Robust Superhydrophobic Surfaces.

Abstract

Despite the recent demands of bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces with self-cleaning properties in various industrial applications, a low-cost fabrication method for superhydrophobic films with excellent stability has rarely been studied. Herein, we report a robust superhydrophobic organic- inorganic hybrid composites film produced via a facile one-step solution-process. As coating materials for the facile one-step fabrication of the robust superhydrophobic films, we included Al₂O₃ nanoparticles for micro/nano hierarchical dual-scale structures, alkylsilane for low surface energy, and organic cross-linkers for increasing the stability of the hybrid composite films. Based on the hydrophobicity and stability tests of the hybrid composite films, the optimized composition of the robust superhydrophobic hybrid composite films showed high water contact angles (>150°) and low sliding angles (<5°) as well as excellent mechanical and thermal stability (up to 350 °C).