Fabrication of superhydrophobic silica film by removing polystyrene spheres

A superhydrophobic silica film has been fabricated by a facile method, which combines the co-sedimentation of dual-sized polystyrene (PS) spheres and the infiltration of a silica sol. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicate that the as-prepared silica surface has a hierarchical micro/nano-structure. The micrometer-sized hollow silica particle with nanometer-sized holes on its surface was created by removing the organic polymer at high temperature. After chemically modified by a layer of dodecafluoroheptyl-methyl-dimethoxysilane (DFMS), the silica film has a water contact angle up to 156.4A degrees, showing excellent superhydrophobic property. The present method may enhance widespread application of superhydrophobic film because of its simplicity and cheapness.