Preparation and properties of superhydrophobic composite coatings based on carbon materials/SiO2

Abstract

Conductive superhydrophobic materials have very important applications in the fields of deicing, electromagnetic shielding, electronic intelligence, etc. However, the current poor durability and fragile structure of superhydrophobic surfaces have significantly limited the application of superhydrophobic conductive materials. In this paper, wear-resistant and conductive superhydrophobic coatings were prepared by directly adding carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to the precursor solution and modified with silane coupling agent. Based on our findings, the addition of silane coupling agent enhanced the adhesion between the nanoparticles and the substrate. Carbon nanotubes were interwoven with SiO₂ particles to form a micrometer/nanometer structure and generate air pockets, resulting in a high contact angle and self-cleaning effect. Furthermore, the high electrical conductivity, high compressive strength and high tensile strength of carbon fibers improved the wear resistance and electrical properties of the coating. This study provides a simple and practical method for the preparation of wear-resistant and conductive superhydrophobic surfaces, which has a broad application prospect in various domains.