Fabrication of highly ordered porous superhydrophobic polystyrene films by electric breath figure and surface chemical modification

To apply SiO2 nanoparticles to assist the formation of polystyrene, PS, film via the electric breath figure, EBF, method in relation to various voltages, the obtained PS/SiO2 films showed highly ordered pore structures and the pore diameter was gradually reduced with the applied voltage increase. On these PS/SiO2 film surfaces, water contact angle was found at 110.3 degrees for 0 V sample and 131.4 degrees for 3000V sample, however, on chlorotrimethylsilane deposited film surface was greatly enhanced to at 129.2 degrees for 0 V sample and 150.1 degrees for 3000 V sample. This indicated that this physical and chemical combined method can form highly ordered porous structure with superhydrophobic behavior. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.