Fabrication and characterization of superhydrophobic thin films based on TEOS/RF hybrid

Abstract Preparation of superhydrophobic silica-based thin film by adjusting different concentration of reverse (W/O) emulsion of resorcinol formaldehyde resin (re-RF) which was hybridised with silica sol has been developed. The hybrid films were coated by the mixing solution which included precursor solution (sol–gel process) and re-RF (sol–gel process). Rough surfaces were obtained by removing the organic polymer at high temperature and then the hydrophobic groups bonded onto the films were obtained by the reaction with trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS). Characteristic properties of the as-prepared cross-section and surface of the films were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atom force microscopy (AFM). The experimental parameters are mainly varied the weight ratio of re-RF to silica sol from 0.2 to 4.0. The result showed that the contact angle of the modified silica film was greater than 160° when the weight ratio of re-RF to silica sol was 2.0.