Preparation of superhydrophobic membranes by electrospinning of fluorinated silane functionalized pullulan

Superhydrophobic pullulan (PULL) membrane with a contact angle larger than 150 is prepared by the electrospinning of the fluorinated silane functionalized PULL. The morphologies of the membranes are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Interaction occurring between PULL and perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES) of the membranes is analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and the contact angles and water drops on the surface of the membrane are measured using video microscopy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.