Thermally-manageable superhydrophobic soot/fluorocarbon hybrid thin films

Abstract

This work introduces a super-hydrophobic hybrid thin film which shows the capability of thermal management. The hybrid thin film was obtained by sputtering a fluorocarbon layer on a glass substrate that has been pre-deposited by a layer of soot. Multiple characterization methods, e.g. Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), Static Contact Angle Measurement and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) were employed to detect the samples' surface morphology, weight percentages of elements and super-hydrophobicity. Soot films were introduced as contrast samples to ensure the improved capability of thermal management and super-hydrophobicity for soot/fluorocarbon films. Different thickness of soot/fluorocarbon hybrid thin films were fabricated to investigate the changes of super-hydrophobic characteristics before and after electrical heating. The temperature of soot/fluorocarbon hybrid thin films was manageable to be elevated and maintained at a certain value when they were electrically activated, which shows a prospect of reducing ice/frost accumulation.