Superhydrophobic waxy-dendron-grafted polymer films via nanostructure manipulation

To imitate the superhydrophobicity of salient epicuticular wax on lotus leaves (hereafter "Lotus effect"), waxy dendrons were synthesized and subsequently grafted on amine-containing polystyrenes. To achieve a low surface energy and a specific surface morphology, the waxy dendron design is...

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Published inJournal of materials chemistry Vol. 19; no. 27; pp. 4819 - 4828
Main Authors TING, Wei-Ho, CHEN, Chao-Chin, DAI, Shenghong A, SUEN, Shing-Yi, YANG, I-Kuan, LIU, Ying-Ling, CHEN, Franklin M. C, JENG, Ru-Jong
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2009
Subjects
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology
Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions
Exact sciences and technology
Materials science
Methods of nanofabrication
Physics
Self-assembly
Solubility, segregation, and mixing; phase separation
Honeycomb lattices
Amines
Van der Waals forces
Surface morphology
Hydrophobic compound
Polymer films
Contact angle
Waxes
Nanostructures
Coatings
Polystyrene
Thin films
Self-assembly
Hydrogen bonds
Phase separation
Droplets
Surface energy
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Summary:To imitate the superhydrophobicity of salient epicuticular wax on lotus leaves (hereafter "Lotus effect"), waxy dendrons were synthesized and subsequently grafted on amine-containing polystyrenes. To achieve a low surface energy and a specific surface morphology, the waxy dendron design is composed of two parts--the focal part possessing plenty of hydrogen bonding sites, and the peripheral part rich in van der Waals forces. The enhanced van der Waals force accompanied with increasing generation of dendrons helps induce self-assembly and phase separation in the preparation process of the polymer films. By different coating processes, three different films (thin film, honeycomb-like film, and three-dimensional rod-co-valley-like film) were obtained with contact angles of 95', 130', and 165', respectively. The three-dimensional rod-co-valley film samples were able to imitate the superhydrophobic property (i.e. Lotus effect), as well as utilize the built-in strong hydrogen bonds to adhere water droplets on surfaces or substrates.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0959-9428
1364-5501
DOI:10.1039/b900468h