Petal-effect superhydrophobic surface self-assembled from poly(p-phenylene)s

In the nonsolvent vapor atmospheres, the petal-effect superhydrophobic surface was self-assembled from conjugated poly(2,5-dibutoxy-p-phenylene). During the dissolution of the nonsolvent vapor and the evaporation of the solution, the side-chain interactions and the pi-pi interactions between conjugated backbones induced the formation of polymer particles, which further agglomerated and formed the network structures and radiate spherical-like hierarchical microstructures. The increase in the distribution of microspheres improved the roughness of the surface and increased the contact angles more than 150. The network of agglomerated polymer particles were easier to be formed and induced a relatively important penetration of the water inside the pores. Therefore, the network of agglomerated polymer particles and radiate spherical-like hierarchical microstructures can form a Cassie-impregnating regime to display the petal-effect. This provides a new strategy for preparing petal-effect superhydrophobic polymer surfaces, which show significant potential for future application in the control of microdroplet and micro-fluidics.