Designing bioinspired parahydrophobic surfaces by electrodeposition of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) and poly(3,4-propylenedioxypyrrole) with mixed hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains

Abstract

In the aim to tune the surface nanostructures and the resulting surface hydrophobicity and water adhesion, we report the preparation of surfaces by electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole (EDOP) and 3,4-propylenedioxypyrrole (ProDOP) with both a short fluorocarbon chain (C4F9) and an alkyl chain of various length (C2H5 to C12H25). The surface properties are very different following the choice of the polymerizable core (EDOP or ProDOP) and the alkyl chain length. The PEDOP polymers are here easier to electrodeposit while the ProDOP could be electrodeposited only with long alkyl chains (≥C8H17). Their electrodeposition leads to the formation of both nanoparticles and wrinkles. The highest properties with apparent contact angle (θw) ≈ 141° and extremely strong water adhesion (parahydrophobic properties) are obtained with EDOP monomers and using intermediate alkyl chains (C6H13 and C8H17). Such properties could be exploited in the future in applications where the control of the interaction forces with the media is required such as in oil/water separation membranes or in water harvesting systems.