Fabrication of a Superhydrophobic Water-Repellent Mesh for Underwater Sensors

Abstract

A superhydrophobic mesh is a unique structure that blocks water, while allowing gases, sound waves, and energy to pass through the holes in the mesh. This mesh is used in various devices, such as gas- and energy-permeable waterproof membranes for underwater sensors and electronic devices. However, it is difficult to fabricate micro- and nano-structures on three dimensional surfaces, such as the cylindrical surface of a wire mesh. In this research, we successfully produced a superhydrophobic water-repellent mesh with a high contact angle (>150°) for nanofibrous structures. Conducting polymer (CP) composite nanofibers were evenly coated on a stainless steel mesh surface, to create a superhydrophobic mesh with a pore size of 100 μm. The nanofiber structure could be controlled by the deposition time. As the deposition time increased, a high-density, hierarchical nanofiber structure was deposited on the mesh. The mesh surface was then coated with Teflon, to reduce the surface energy. The fabricated mesh had a static water contact angle of 163°, and a water-pressure resistance of 1.92 kPa.