Nepenthes Pitcher Inspired Anti-Wetting Silicone Nanofilaments Coatings: Preparation, Unique Anti-Wetting and Self-Cleaning Behaviors

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 24; no. 8; pp. 1074 - 1080
• Main Authors: Zhang, Junping, Wang, Aiqin, Seeger, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2014
• Subjects: Coatings; Density; Dirt; Liquids; Nanostructure; self-cleaning; silanes; silicone nanofilaments; Silicones; Sliding; sliding speed; Spreads; surface chemistry
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201301481

Nepenthes pitcher inspired anti‐wetting coatings, fluoro‐SNs/Krytox, are successfully fabricated by the combination of fluoro‐silicone nanofilaments (fluoro‐SNs) and Krytox liquids, perfluoropolyethers. Fluoro‐SNs with different microstructure are grown onto glass slides using trichloromethylsilane by simply repeating the coating step, and then modified with 1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane. Subsequently, the Krytox liquid is spread on the fluoro‐SNs coatings via capillary effect. The fluoro‐SNs/Krytox coatings feature ultra‐low sliding angle for various liquids, excellent stability, and transparency. The sliding speed of liquid drops on the fluoro‐SNs/Krytox coating is obviously slower than on the lotus inspired superhydrophobic and superoleophobic coatings, and is controlled by composition of the coating (e.g., morphology of the fluoro‐SNs, type of Krytox and its thickness) and properties of the liquid drops (e.g., density and surface tension). In addition, the self‐cleaning property of the fluoro‐SNs/Krytox coating is closely related to properties of liquid drops and dirt. Nepenthes pitcher inspired anti‐wetting coatings are fabricated by the combination of fluoro‐silicone nanofilaments and a perfluoropolyether liquid. The sliding speed of liquid drop and the self‐cleaning property can be controlled by composition of the coating, properties of liquid drop, and dirt.