Preparation of multifunctional superhydrophobic nanocomposite coatings by aerosol-assisted atmospheric cold plasma deposition

A general method for the preparation of superhydrophobic organic-inorganic nanocomposite coatings by atmospheric pressure cold plasma is presented. The method consists of a single-step room-temperature aerosol-assisted deposition process in which the aerosol of a dispersion of oleate-capped ZnO nanoparticles in liquid hydrocarbon precursors (i.e., a mixture of n-octane and 1,7-octadiene) is injected in a dielectric barrier discharge. The plasma-deposited hydrocarbon polymer/ZnO nanoparticles nanocomposite coatings show multifunctional behavior and specifically combine the photocatalytic properties of ZnO with superhydrophobicity; the latter results from the synergistic effect of the hierarchical multiscale surface texture due to the incorporation of nanoparticles and the low surface energy organic component formed via plasma polymerization of the hydrocarbon precursors.