Petal-effect superhydrophobic surface self-assembled from poly(p-phenylene)s

Abstract

In the nonsolvent vapor atmospheres, the petal-effect superhydrophobic surface was self-assembled from conjugated poly(2,5-dibutoxy-p-phenylene). During the dissolution of the nonsolvent vapor and the evaporation of the solution, the side-chain interactions and the π–π interactions between conjugated backbones induced the formation of polymer particles, which further agglomerated and formed the network structures and radiate spherical-like hierarchical microstructures. The increase in the distribution of microspheres improved the roughness of the surface and increased the contact angles more than 150°. The network of agglomerated polymer particles were easier to be formed and induced a relatively important penetration of the water inside the pores. Therefore, the network of agglomerated polymer particles and radiate spherical-like hierarchical microstructures can form a Cassie-impregnating regime to display the petal-effect. This provides a new strategy for preparing petal-effect superhydrophobic polymer surfaces, which show significant potential for future application in the control of microdroplet and micro-fluidics.