Perfluorinated ProDOT monomers for superhydrophobic/oleophobic surfaces elaboration

Abstract

Here, we report for the first time the use of the Staudinger-Vilarrasa reaction to synthesize perfluorinated 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) monomers for preparing hydrophobic/oleophobic surfaces. The efficiency of this reaction is shown with various perfluorinated chains. The prepared monomers are nicely polymerized to form homogeneous perfluorinated surfaces. The study of these surfaces reveal extremely high hydrophobic features with para and superhydrophobic properties (high and low water adhesion). Using different organic probe liquids (diiodomethane and hexadecane), it has been shown that the surfaces present also high oleophobic features. This work also shows a nice impact of the perfluorinated chain length on the surface morphologies.