Surface modification of ZnO nanowire arrays with PTFE and their wettability property

Abstract

Super-hydrophobic materials are important for their self-cleaning function which has become an increasingly popular research topic. This special surface in biologic world with super-hydrophobicity gives us a lot of inspiration to produce artificial hydrophobic materials to be applied in daily life and industry. Coating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on ZnO nanowire arrays is believed an ideal structure to produce a super hydrophobic surface layer. However, it is still a challenge to well combine PTFE and ZnO nanowires with high durability by a simple method. In this paper, we studied the wettability property of the surface modified ZnO nanowire arrays. These vertically ordered and well crystallized ZnO nanowire arrays were synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. After coating a thin layer of PTFE on those ZnO nanowire arrays by a simple vapor deposition method, the surface of samples has excellent super hydrophobicity with extremely low water rolling angle. The experimental results testify the modified ZnO nanowires have a good self-cleaning surface.