Synthesis of nanostructure manganese doped zinc oxide/polystyrene thin films with excellent stability, transparency and super-hydrophobicity

Superhydrophobic transparent thin films using Mn doped zinc oxide (Mn/ZnO) and polystyrene (PS) composites have been synthesized successfully by chemical solution method. The nanocomposites thin films were fabricated by using Mn/ZnO and PS mixture in toluene, followed by film casting on glass substrate. For a comparison ZnO nanoparticles thin film was also prepared with PS. Mn/ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized by hydrothermal method using hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as a capping agent. The XRD analysis shown that the development of hexagonal wurtzite structure of Mn/ZnO with preferred (101) orientation. SEM analysis shown that Mn/ZnO nanorods have been uniformly dispersed in the PS matrix. Water contact angle (WCA) was found as 107° and 151° for the ZnO@PS and Mn doped ZnO@PS thin film, respectively. The transparency of the Mn doped ZnO@PS films are also large (∼90%) as compared to ZnO@PS film (∼80%) which is attributed to enhanced energy band gap of ZnO after Mn doping. The larger contact angle (WCA ∼151°) in the Mn/ZnO@PS thin film has been recognized to the rough surface of PS thin film due to the presence of Mn/ZnO nanorods. The present process is very simple and embrace ability for extensive applications for making super hydrophobic transparent surfaces.