Superoleophobic polymers with metal ion affinity toward materials with both oleophobic and hydrophilic properties

Bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide salts are used as electrolyte for the elaboration of superoleophobic properties by electrodeposition using a monomer containing a short perfluorobutyl (C4F9), separated from the polymer backbone by a long alkyl spacer, to reduce the mobility of these chains, and an amido connector to form complexes with ions. The electrodeposition in some of these electrolytes induces the formation of microstructures composed of nanosheets able to reach superoleophobic properties. When complexant ions (Na(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Ba(2+)) are used as cation of the electrolyte, these ions are incorporated in the polymer leading to a material with higher oleophobicity than hydrophobicity. Indeed, when a water droplet is deposited on the surface, the migration of the ions induces a decrease in the surface hydrophobicity, while the deposition of an oil droplet (diiodomethane or hexadecane) does not induce this migration. If the incorporation of these ions is not sufficiently stable for applications in oil/water separation, this work opens new strategies in the elaboration of both superoleophobic/oleophobic and superhydrophilic/hydrophilic materials. Such materials can also be used for the ion capture and release.