Creation of coating surfaces possessing superhydrophobic and superoleophobic characteristics with fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomeric nanocomposites having biphenylene segments

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomeric nanocomposites having biphenylene units [R-F-(VM-SiO2)n-R-F/Ar-SiO2] were prepared by the sol-gel reaction of the corresponding oligomer [R-F-(VM)(n)-R-F] with 4,4'-bis(triethoxysilyl)-1,1'-biphenyl [Ar-Si(OEt)(3)] under alkaline conditions. R-F-(VM-SiO2)(n)-R-F/Ar-SiO2 nanocomposites were applied to the surface modification of PMMA to exhibit not only a good oleophobicity imparted by fluorine but also a fluorescent emission ability on the surface. Methanol sol solutions of R-F-(VM-SiO2)(n)-R-F/Ar-SiO2 nanocomposites were effective for the surface modification of glass through the dipping technique to exhibit good oleophobicity with superhydrophobicity on the modified glass surface. On the other hand, 1,2-dichloroethane sot solutions enabled R-F-(VM-SiO2)(n)-R-F/Ar-SiO2 nanocomposites to exhibit both superhydrophobic and superoleophobic characteristics on the modified surface through dipping the glass in these sot solutions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.