Ultra-oleophobic cotton fabric prepared using molecular and nanoparticle vapor deposition methods

•An atomic layer of FOTS was deposited to render the fabric surfaces oleophobic.•Original fabric properties such as strength, comfort and natural feel were preserved.•Contact angles as high as ~ 170° and very low hysteresis (nearly zero) were achieved.•Low work of adhesion and low surface free energy were reported.

Preparation of ultra-oleophobic cotton fabrics using nanoparticle vapor deposition (NVD) techniques is discussed in this paper. An atomic layer of (Tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2,-Tetrahydrooctyl)trichlorosilane (FOTS) was deposited to render the fabric surfaces oleophobic while preserving the original fabric properties such as strength, comfort, and natural feel. Surfaces were roughened by trimethylaluminium (TMA) nanoparticles, which imparted unique oleophobicity to the fabrics with contact angles as high as ~ 170° and very low hysteresis (nearly zero). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and universal attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (UATR–FTIR) were used to investigate the development of the oleophobic coating over the fabric surface. Dynamics of the surface were also studied, and desired results, such as very low force to initiate the droplet movement, low work of adhesion, and low surface free energy, were reported.