Superhydrophobic silicone nanofilament coatings

we present recent work on a method for depositing silicone nanofilament coatings on surfaces under mild conditions in the gas or solvent phase. The coating shows exceptional properties in an application as a superhydrophobic coating. It can be applied to a variety of substrates, is optically transparent and intrinsically superhydrophobic with typical water contact angles of more than 160 degrees and sliding angles below 20 degrees. It shows exceptional long term stability towards solvents and aqueous solutions of varying pH as well as natural and artificial weathering. We review the coating techniques as well as the results of our studies on the structure and properties of a silicone nanofilament coating. (c) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2008.