Hydrocarbon versus Fluorocarbon in the Electrodeposition of Superhydrophobic Polymer Films

To elaborate on superhydrophobic surfaces, we report the electrochemical synthesis, surface morphology, and wettability of hydrocarbon conductive polymer films obtained by the electrodeposition of polythiophene, poly(3.4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (i.e., PEDOT), and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole) (i.e., PEDOP) derivatives. Highly hydrophobic films were obtained from n-C14H29 and n-C8H17 chains in the cases of polythiophenes and PEDOP, respectively. By contrast, superhydrophobic films were formed by the deposition of PEDOT substituted with n-C10H21 chains (PEDOT-methyl undecanoate): static contact angle approximate to 160.60 degrees, hysteresis approximate to 2 degrees, and sliding. angle approximate to 30 degrees. Their surface properties were compared to those of previously reported fluorinated analogues. The water-repellent properties of PEDOT-methyl undecanoate were similar to the best surface properties obtained with fluorinated monomers. Even if the main approach for the chemical factor to build up superhydrophobic surfaces is via a coating of a fluorinated compound, this work confirms that the formation of fractal surfaces is able to achieve super-anti-wetting properties within a hydrocarbon series (less expensive with a favorable ecotoxic approach), and it opens a new path to bioinspired surfaces.