Transparency and water resistance of a superhydrophobic acrylic surface prepared using THF/IPA etching-assisted SiO2 NPs

Abstract A transparent and water-resistant superhydrophobic acrylic surface was successfully fabricated via the use of tetrahydrofuran/isopropyl alcohol (THF/IPA) etching-assisted SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). A coating solution was prepared by mixing methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS)-modified SiO2 nanoparticles in THF/IPA at different ratios to improve the superhydrophobicity and roughness of the acrylic surface. The acrylic was then dipped into the coating solution for 1 min under ambient air. Superhydrophobicity with a high water contact angle (>155°) and low sliding angle (