Preparation of thermally and chemically robust superhydrophobic coating from liquid phase deposition and low voltage reversible electrowetting

Publication date: 31 August 2017
Source:Thin Solid Films, Volume 636
Author(s): Pascal Nbelayim, Hisatoshi Sakamoto, Go Kawamura, Hiroyuki Muto, Atsunori Matsuda
Superhydrophobic surfaces and electrowetting have found applications in many fields. Two of the most desired features in these applications are a robust surface and low voltage actuation electrowetting. A thermally and chemically robust nano-scale superhydrophobic surface was prepared using facile techniques of sol-gel and hot water treatment to obtain rough pseudoboehmite alumina structures; and layer-by-layer coating, using Nafion®, to achieve the hydrophobization. It exhibited a contact angle of 167.2±0.8°; thermal stability of up to 300°C; stability to acid, base, organic solvents and UV irradiation. Subsequently replacing Nafion® with 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane and a conductive Au under layer coating, an extremely low voltage, 3V, electrowetting and reversible electrowetting were achieved in air and dodecane media, respectively.