Hydrophobic and ultrahydrophobic multilayer thin films from perfluorinated polyelectrolytes

Abstract

Making contact: The hydrophobicity of the top layer of a multilayer thin film composed of polyelectrolytes and clay nanorods determines the contact angle of a water drop on the surface (see picture). The film is built up layer-by-layer on a silicon surface, thus enabling the surface properties to be readily modified by changing the polyelectrolyte used.