Abstract
A simple, versatile method has been developed to fabricate the transparent superhydrophobic surface via granuliform silica aerogels. The effect of ageing on the wettability, microstructure morphology and chemical structure of the dried gels has been investigated. Silica aerogel (dried alcogel with ageing) has a 3D porous network exhibiting the high surface area and pore volume. In comparison, large aggregates of silica nanoparticles exist within the backbone of the silica xerogel (dried alcogel without ageing). Both the aerogel and xerogel exhibit analogous chemical composition with abundant of methyl groups on the surface. The rough surface due to the high porosity and low surface energy provided by the methyl groups of aerogel contribute to the superhydrophobicity. Meanwhile, glass slides coated with aerogel film is highly transparent because the roughness created by the aerogel film is limited.
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