One step sol–gel electrochemistry for the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces†
Abstract
A novel one-step sol–gel electrochemistry route to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces is presented. High roughness and low energy surfaces were obtained simultaneously during the formation of long-chain alkyl-grouped alkoxysilane films via electrochemically assisted deposition. Furthermore, significantly improved thermal and chemical stabilities and mechanical properties of the superhydrophobic surface were achieved by the incorporation of silica.