One-pot, template-free synthesis of a robust superhydrophobic polymer monolith with an adjustable hierarchical porous structure

We fabricated a porous polymer monolith with tunable hierarchical porosity and damage-tolerant super-hydrophobic properties simultaneously using divinylbenzene (DVB) and SiO2 composites. The polymer monolith exhibiting a high specific surface area (820.5 m(2) g(-1)) and large pore volume (1.59 cm(3) g(-1)) is obtained without using any fluorinated compounds, template, surfactant or stabilizer and further chemical modification which is green, low cost, simple and environmentally-safe. The hierarchical porosity of the polymer monolith is controllable readily by regulating the solvothermal temperature. In addition, the polymer monolith features excellent superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 161.3 degrees and a sliding angle smaller than 4.0 degrees as well as switchable wettability which can be realized by simple UV irradiation and abrasion. Importantly, the monolith demonstrates excellent mechanical resistance and environmental durability owing to its low-surface-energy microstructures extending throughout its whole volume which is comparable to most superhydrophobic surfaces that have poor durability. Moreover, the monolith can be used as a chalk for painting superhydrophobic porous polymer coating on substrates with various shapes and features, which facilitates the preparation of large area superhydrophobic surfaces and is extensively applicable.