Robust fluorine-free
superhydrophobic films were produced
from
a mixture of two fatty acids (stearic acid and palmitic acid), SiO2nanoparticles, and polydimethylsiloxane. These simple and
nontoxic compounds were deposited via aerosol-assisted chemical vapor
deposition to provide the rough topography required for superhydrophobicity,
formed through island growth of the aggregates. The optimum conditions
for well-adhered superhydrophobic films produced films with a highly
textured morphology, which possessed a water contact angle of 162
± 2° and a sliding angle of <5°. Superhydrophobicity
was maintained after ultraviolet exposure (14 days at 365 nm), heat
treatment (5 h at 300 °C and 5 h at 400 °C), 300 tape peel
cycles, and exposure to ethanol and toluene (5 h each).