Fabrication of superhydrophobic cotton fabrics by silica hydrosol and hydrophobization

► Superhydrophobic cotton was prepared by SiO2 hydrosol and HDTMS hydrophobization. ► We prepared silica hydrosols in the alcohol-free sol-gel system. ► The catalyst and surfactant concentrations affected the SiO2 particle size. ► SEM, SPM, XPS, and TGA confirmed grafting of SiO2 and HDTMS on the treated cotton. ► The superhydrophobic cotton had a WCA of 151.9̊ and a WSA of 13̊.