Abstract
Superhydrophobic polymethylene (PM) films provide remarkable protection against the transport of aqueous redox probes as a result of entrapped air at the water/polymer interface. The wetting properties and the topography for a set of superhydrophobic (SH) and nonsuperhydrophobic (NSH) PM films were established to compare their interfacial behavior using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS results show that SH PM films exhibit resistances against ion transfer that are approximately 3 orders of magnitude higher than those of NSH PM films. Rationalization of these results in the context of the Helmholtz theory reveals that the imaginary impedance or inverse capacitance of SH PM films exhibits positive deviations from that predicted by Helmholtz theory for smooth PM films. Here, we model the capacitance behavior of a SH film as a PM/air composite that acts as a circuit of capacitors. The resulting mathematical model of this analysis enables correlation of the effective dielectric properties of the film (d(effective), epsilon(effective)) to measurable properties such as thickness (d(film)) and the dielectric constant (epsilon(PM)) of the PM film. Finally, a sensitivity analysis shows that the limited contact area between the aqueous solution and PM in SH films is the primary reason for the enhancement in the barrier properties of the film.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
