Tuneable Wetting of Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Films via Titania Modification to Enhance Durability and Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract Superhydrophobic photocatalytic self‐cleaning films are fabricated via aerosol‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). First, superhydrophobic/SiO2 polymer films consisting of a combination of fatty acids, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and SiO2 nanoparticles are deposited which displayed...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Julie Jalila Kalmoni, Christopher S. Blackman, Claire J. Carmalt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2024-12-01
Series:Advanced Materials Interfaces
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400519
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846111145679650816
author Julie Jalila Kalmoni
Christopher S. Blackman
Claire J. Carmalt
author_facet Julie Jalila Kalmoni
Christopher S. Blackman
Claire J. Carmalt
author_sort Julie Jalila Kalmoni
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Superhydrophobic photocatalytic self‐cleaning films are fabricated via aerosol‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). First, superhydrophobic/SiO2 polymer films consisting of a combination of fatty acids, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and SiO2 nanoparticles are deposited which displayed static water contact angles >160° and maintained superhydrophobicity after 300 tape peel cycles. The AACVD process is used to achieve a highly textured morphology required for superhydrophobicity. The surface properties are then modified by depositing a thin layer of TiO2 on the superhydrophobic coating via AACVD of titanium isopropoxide (TTIP). The deposited films are hydrophobic/superhydrophobic depending on the concentration of TTIP used in the deposition process. The resulting hybrid films exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity relative to the uncoated superhydrophobic film, maintained hydrophobicity after exposure to toluene, and tolerated pencil hardness of up to “6H”. This multi‐layered approach allows to easily tune the wettability of the superhydrophobic film, which is challenging to do when the superhydrophobic and TiO2 precursor are deposited as a single one‐pot precursor.
format Article
id doaj-art-df0e8df3f3fb4ad99a5ac997a35d3520
institution Kabale University
issn 2196-7350
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Wiley-VCH
record_format Article
series Advanced Materials Interfaces
spelling doaj-art-df0e8df3f3fb4ad99a5ac997a35d35202024-12-23T11:32:50ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Materials Interfaces2196-73502024-12-011135n/an/a10.1002/admi.202400519Tuneable Wetting of Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Films via Titania Modification to Enhance Durability and Photocatalytic ActivityJulie Jalila Kalmoni0Christopher S. Blackman1Claire J. Carmalt2Materials Chemistry Centre Department of Chemistry University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UKMaterials Chemistry Centre Department of Chemistry University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UKMaterials Chemistry Centre Department of Chemistry University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UKAbstract Superhydrophobic photocatalytic self‐cleaning films are fabricated via aerosol‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). First, superhydrophobic/SiO2 polymer films consisting of a combination of fatty acids, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and SiO2 nanoparticles are deposited which displayed static water contact angles >160° and maintained superhydrophobicity after 300 tape peel cycles. The AACVD process is used to achieve a highly textured morphology required for superhydrophobicity. The surface properties are then modified by depositing a thin layer of TiO2 on the superhydrophobic coating via AACVD of titanium isopropoxide (TTIP). The deposited films are hydrophobic/superhydrophobic depending on the concentration of TTIP used in the deposition process. The resulting hybrid films exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity relative to the uncoated superhydrophobic film, maintained hydrophobicity after exposure to toluene, and tolerated pencil hardness of up to “6H”. This multi‐layered approach allows to easily tune the wettability of the superhydrophobic film, which is challenging to do when the superhydrophobic and TiO2 precursor are deposited as a single one‐pot precursor.https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400519photocatalytic self‐cleaning filmssuperhydrophobicsurface modification
spellingShingle Julie Jalila Kalmoni
Christopher S. Blackman
Claire J. Carmalt
Tuneable Wetting of Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Films via Titania Modification to Enhance Durability and Photocatalytic Activity
Advanced Materials Interfaces
photocatalytic self‐cleaning films
superhydrophobic
surface modification
title Tuneable Wetting of Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Films via Titania Modification to Enhance Durability and Photocatalytic Activity
title_full Tuneable Wetting of Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Films via Titania Modification to Enhance Durability and Photocatalytic Activity
title_fullStr Tuneable Wetting of Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Films via Titania Modification to Enhance Durability and Photocatalytic Activity
title_full_unstemmed Tuneable Wetting of Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Films via Titania Modification to Enhance Durability and Photocatalytic Activity
title_short Tuneable Wetting of Fluorine‐Free Superhydrophobic Films via Titania Modification to Enhance Durability and Photocatalytic Activity
title_sort tuneable wetting of fluorine free superhydrophobic films via titania modification to enhance durability and photocatalytic activity
topic photocatalytic self‐cleaning films
superhydrophobic
surface modification
url https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202400519
work_keys_str_mv AT juliejalilakalmoni tuneablewettingoffluorinefreesuperhydrophobicfilmsviatitaniamodificationtoenhancedurabilityandphotocatalyticactivity
AT christophersblackman tuneablewettingoffluorinefreesuperhydrophobicfilmsviatitaniamodificationtoenhancedurabilityandphotocatalyticactivity
AT clairejcarmalt tuneablewettingoffluorinefreesuperhydrophobicfilmsviatitaniamodificationtoenhancedurabilityandphotocatalyticactivity