Transparent superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic coatings

We report a facile process for fabrication of transparent superhydrophobic and highly oleophobic surfaces through assembly of silica nanoparticles and sacrificial polystyrene nanoparticles. The silica and polystyrene nanoparticles are first deposited by a layer-by-layer assembly technique. The polystyrene nanoparticles are then removed by calcination, which leaves a porous network of silica nanoparticles. The cavities created by the sacrificial polystyrene particles form overhang structures on the surfaces. Modified with a fluorocarbon molecule, such surfaces are superhydrophobic and transparent. They also repel liquids with low surface tensions, such as hexadecane, due to the overhang structures that prevent liquids from getting into the air pockets even though the intrinsic contact angles of these liquids are less than 90 degrees.