Fabrication and superhydrophobicity of fluorinated titanium dioxide nanocoatings

This study demonstrates the fabrication of a stable superhydrophobic surface with low contact angle hysteresis (CAH) using an arrangement of nanoscale TiO(2) spheres. The control of precursor quantity is selected as the key factor in determining surface roughness that significantly intensifies water contact angle (CA) of TiO(2) films. After surface fluorination treatment, the anatase-type crystalline surfaces exhibit good water repellency (CA approximately 166.1 degrees ), low CAH ( approximately 6 degrees ), and superhydrophobic stability (>60min). Enhanced water repellency is attributed to the fact that the higher density of TiO(2) spheres results in more tortuous three-phase contact line, leading to the self-cleaning effect. Such a unique textured surface imparts many promising potentials for engineering and the development of optics devices with robust superhydrophobic materials.