Structural and hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties of nanosilica/zirconia alone and with adsorbed PDMS

► Zirconia in the form of nanocrystallites grafted onto nanosilica increases specific surface area. ► Zirconia/nanosilica is more hydrophilic than nanosilica. ► PDMS/zirconia/nanosilica is more hydrophobic than PDMS/nanosilica. ► Hydrophobicity of PDMS/nanooxide depends nonlinearly on PDMS content.