Super-hydrophobic and Self-cleaning PVDF Film Fabricated by Chemical Bath Deposition

Self-cleaning surfaces have received a great deal of attention recently,both in theoretical studies and commercial applications.The self-cleaning surface of lotus leaf is hydrophobic and rough,showing a micro-and nano-scale morphology.The micro-reliefs of lotus leaf were mimicked using polyvinylidene fluoride（PVDF）film and nano-scale peaks on the top of the micro-reliefs were implemented by the reaction between methyltrichlorosilane and the reactive groups of PVDF film treated by oxygen plasma.A lotus-leaf-like surface of the PVDF film was clearly observed by scanning electronic microscopy（SEM）and atomic force microscope（AFM）.Elemental composition analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy（XPS）revealed that the material of the nanostructure of PVDF film was polymethylsiloxane.The superhydrophobic property of the mimicked self-cleaning surface was validated by the water contact angle and sliding angle on the lotus-leaf-like PVDF film,which were 156.6° and 4°,respectively.In this case,water droplets can easily move across the PVDF film surface,carrying dirt particles away,leaving no contamination.