An efficient method for the creation of a superhydrophobic surface: ethylene polymerization over self-assembled colloidal silica nanoparticles incorporating single-site Cr-oxide catalysts

The present communication describes a new method for the creation of a superhydrophobic thin film, in which polyethylene is synthesized on self-assembled colloidal silica nanoparticles incorporating single-site Cr-oxide catalysts. The obtained thin film shows a static water contact angle of 162 degrees due to the combined effect of hydrophobicity of synthesized polyethylene and microstructures formed by colloidal silica nanoparticles.