Fabrication and characterization of robust hydrophobic lotus leaf-like surface on Si3N4 porous membrane via polymer-derived SiNCO inorganic nanoparticle modification

Robust hydrophobic surface was produced by modifying the surface of porous Si3N4 membrane, via aminolysis and pyrolysis process, with organosilane-derived inorganic SiNCO nanoparticles, which are tightly adhered to the Si3N4 grains. The resultant material had a high water contact angle of 142°, attributed to -Si-CH3 surface terminal groups and a lotus leaf-like hierarchical structure of the nanoparticles, which had a frame structure with Si-N and Si-O covalent bonds in their bulk. The hydrophobic behavior remained practically unchanged after exposure of the produced membranes to aqueous solutions of humic acid, HCl and NaOH, to benzene, as well as to stirring abrasive slurry with SiC particles, and after exposure at high temperatures, up to 500 °C, to air. The inorganic membrane can be considered for use in a broad range of applications which require robust hydrophobic surfaces.