Electrochemical deposition of conductive superhydrophobic zinc oxide thin films

A simple method of electrochemical deposition was adopted to prepare conductive hydrophobic zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films. The surface structures were characterized by sanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Wettability studies revealed that the surface of the as-prepared thin films showed a contact angle (CA) for water of 128.3 +/- 1.7degrees, whereas the superhydrophobic surface with a water contact angle of 152.0 +/- 2.0degrees was obtained by (fluoroalkyl)silane modification. The superhydrophobic conductive thin films materials may have potential use such as microfluidic devices in the future. It is likely that other oxide materials may be similarly prepared by this method.