Fabrication of Self-Healable, Robust Superhydrophobic Surfaces Using UV-Crosslinked Nanocomposite Films

Studies on fabricating robust superhydrophobic surfaces by a low-cost method have been rare, despite the recent demand for nature-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces including self-healing ability in various industrial applications. Herein, we propose a fabrication method for self-healable, robust superhydrophobic nanocomposite films by facile solution-processed spray coating and UV curing. The components of the coating solution include functionalized hydrophobic silica nanoparticles for producing high roughness hierarchical textured structures with low surface energy, and UV-crosslinkable v-POSS and bi-thiol hydrocarbon molecules to improve the film stability. As a result of the synergetic effect of the hydrophobic nanoparticles and UV-crosslinked polymeric compounds, the spray-coated and UV-cured nanocomposite films possess excellent superhydrophobicity (water contact angles > 150º) and high stability, in addition to self-healing abilities.