Tuning hydrophobic surface with vertically polymerised microflake structures fabricated using heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetra-hydrodecyltrichlorosilane

Abstract This work presents a facile fabrication method for vertical polymerised structures with a tuned superhydrophobic surface on an aluminium alloy. This method includes vertically polymerising heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetra-hydrodecyltrichlorosilane (HDFS), which is used for self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coatings, wherein vertical polymerisation is normally considered a process defect. For fabricating the base structure, aluminium hydroxide was generated to form a nanostructure. HDFS was coated as an SAM and microflake fabrication was carried out on this surface for various lengths of time. Microflakes were fabricated by vertical polymerisation of HDFS through this process. Samples coated for 10–30 min showed the water contact angle ( θ C ) of >168.3° and the lowest water sliding angle ( θ S ) of θ S . This micro/nano dual-scale-flake surface was achieved without any hazardous etching processes and can be facilely applied in various industrial fields that require superhydrophobic surfaces.