Robust superhydrophobic PEEK surface with stable antifouling and self-cleaning performances

Superhydrophobic surfaces generally encounter substantial challenges due to their weak stability when subjected to harsh environments. Specifically, the delicate micro-nano structures present on these surfaces are susceptible to external destruction. Given the robust mechanical characteristics and chemical stability of polyether ether ketone (PEEK), ultra-stable superhydrophobic PEEK surfaces were developed using template replication and chemical modification methods, achieving a water contact angle (WCA) of 159.6 ± 1.4° and a water rolling angle (WRA) of 3.7 ± 0.6°. The stable superhydrophobicity is primarily attributed to the synergistic effect of the robust arrayed micro-nano structures and the stably bonded fluorine long chains. Notably, the superhydrophobic PEEK surfaces demonstrate remarkable durability. They could maintain satisfactory superhydrophobicity even after 120 sandpaper abrasion cycles, 600 sharp steel blade scraping cycles, 10 L of water impact, 24 h of ultrasonic destruction, 52 weeks of ageing, 7 days of corrosive reagent damage, 7 days of UV irradiation, etc. Moreover, these fabricated superhydrophobic PEEK surfaces also exhibit robust antifouling and self-cleaning properties. This ultra-stable superhydrophobic PEEK surface is of significant importance for efficient antifouling of biomedical and aerospace in harsh environments.