Quenching of photocatalytic activity and enhancement of photostability of ZnO particles by polydimethysiloxane coating

ZnO particles with a size range of 50–150 nm were coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with a thin film thickness of 3–4 nm using a simple ambient-pressure chemical vapor deposition method. Surfaces consisting of the PDMS-coated ZnO nanoparticles were found to be superhydrophobic with a water contact angle >160°. The superhydrophobicity was sustained in the presence of UV light. Photocatalytic activity and photocorrosion of ZnO were nearly completely quenched in the presence of PDMS-coating. It is suggested that our PDMS-coating can be of potential interest for the application of ZnO in UV protection agents and energy and electronic devices.