Formation of superhydrophobic polystyrene film by electric-assisted phase separation

•Superhydrophobic PS film can be one step formed by electric-assisted phase separation.•The surface tension of mixted solution was reduced with applied voltage increase.•The solvent evoporation would be increased with the applied voltage increase.

This work demonstrated that the superhydrohpobic polystyrene, PS, film can be one step fabricated by electric-assisted phase separation, EAPS, method. Experimentally, a linear PS was dissolved in a THF/ethanol mixing solvent and casted on a glass substrate under an electric field condition to start electric-assisted phase separation to form PS film. FESEM images showed that the PS film surface presented numrous micropheres while the size was reduced with the applied voltage increase. Water contact angles on these PS surfaces was increased with the voltages increase, e.g. at 126.5° for 0 V sample and at 151.3° for 3000 V sample.

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