A free-standing porous silicon-type gel sponge with superhydrophobicity and oleophobicity

Abstract

Porous and spongy superhydrophobic silicon-type gels monoliths have been fabricated by a facile method. The gel can be turned oleophobic after modification with fluorosilane. The as-prepared free-standing silicon-type gels demonstrate superhydrophobicity and oleophobicity not only on the upper surface but also throughout the whole monolith. Importantly, the as-prepared amphiphobic silicon-type gels have remarkable chemical stability even in corrosive solutions over a wide range of pH conditions. Moreover, the silicon-type gel monoliths also have stable amphiphobic properties even after UV irradiation and long-term storage in air.