Facile preparation of superhydrophobic coatings by sol-gel processes

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2008 Sep 1;325(1):149-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2008.05.007. Epub 2008 Jun 20.

Abstract

Different organic/inorganic compositions and deposition methods were used to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces using metal alkoxides and the sol-gel process. Both surface roughness and composition had to be adjusted in order to obtain very high contact angles and low contact angle hysteresis as a necessary requirement for superhydrophobicity. Multilayer samples with a fluorinated organic-inorganic top layer showed water contact angles of about 157 degrees with low hysteresis (2 degrees ). Water drops rolled easily off their surface at a tilt angle as low as 4 degrees .