Water interaction with dielectric surface: A combined ab initio modeling and experimental study

A combined ab initio modeling and experimental study of water adsorption on a dry hydrophobic dielectric surface is presented. This is an important phenomenon for controlled droplet deposition in various technological applications. The ab initio density functional theory calculations are performed to reveal the dominant water adsorption sites, energetics, and the electron density profile on Teflon and parafilm surfaces. Several surface states such as stretched, nondefective, and defective are considered for water adsorption studies. It is revealed that stretching of nondefective surface leads to weaker water adsorption compared to an unstretched surface. Accordingly, such stretching makes the surface more hydrophobic as revealed by the electron density profile. The introduction of random defects into Teflon and parafilm surfaces results in an increase in water adsorption energy leading, in some cases, to practically hydrophilic interactions. These findings are in good agreement with the present measurements of static contact angle on prestretched Teflon and parafilm samples, where stretching not only elongates interatomic bonds but also changes the surface roughness. Thus, the present combined modeling and experimental study allows for a mechanistic interpretation of the reasons behind the change of wettability of dry hydrophobic surfaces.