Fabrication and characterization of superhydrophobic Sb2O3 films

Superhydrophobic Sb2O3 films with micro-nanoscale hierarchical structures have been successfully synthesized for the first time. The resultant materials were characterized in detail by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and water contact angle measurements. The water static contact angle of the obtained Sb2O3 film is about 159 degrees +/- 2 degrees and the sliding angle is less than 5 degrees. Reasonable mechanisms for the formation of micro-nanoscale hierarchical structures and for the superhydrophobic properties with a small sliding angle of the obtained Sb2O3 film are also presented in this work.