Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces on wood substrates via a one-step hydrothermal process

Superhydrophobic nanocomposite surfaces were successfully fabricated on wood substrates via a one-step hydrothermal process. The morphology of the nanocomposite surfaces was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the elemental composition was determined via energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the crystallization of the anatase phase of TiO2 was prevented because of the presence of vinyltriethoxysilane [VTES, CH2CHSi(OC2H5)3] during the hydrothermal process. In addition, the nanocomposite contained Ti/Si particles with diameters ranging from 50 to 100 nm that thoroughly covered the wood substrate. Furthermore, the roughness coupled with the presence of low surface free energy groups led to superhydrophobicity; the static water contact angle (WCA) was as high as 153°, and the sliding angle was very low.