Effect of fluorination of carbon nanotubes on superhydrophobic properties of fluoro-based films

In this work, we prepared multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) thin films on glass substrates with transparent, conductive, and superhydrophobic properties. MWCNTs were dispersed in fluoropolymer (FP) solutions for modification of their Surface by grafting FP. A dip-coating process was used to prepare the films at a continuous speed and different numbers of coatings. The chemical compositions and microstructures of the prepared film surface were also investigated by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The film showed 83.5% transmittance and a sheet resistance of 1.38 x 10(4) Omega sq(-1), and a high contact angle of 160.2 degrees. The 3D MWCNTs networks and the low surface energy of the FP play important roles in creating the superhydrophobic surface of the MWCNTs film. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.