Effect of time and of precursor molecule on the deposition of hydrophobic nanolayers on ethyelene tetrafluoroethylene–silicon oxide substrates

Abstract

A method was developed for generating transparent and hydrophobic nanolayers chemisorbed onto flexible substrates of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene-silicon oxide (ETFE-SiOx). In particular, the effect of the deposition time and of the precursor molecule on the nanocoating process was analyzed with the aim of pursuing an optimization of the above method in an industrial application perspective. It was found that precursor molecule of triethoxysilane allowed to obtain better hydrophobic properties on the SiOx surface in shorter times compared to trichlorosilane, reaching the 92 % of final contact angle (CA) value of 106°after only 1 h of deposition. The optical properties and surface morphology were also assessed in function of time, revealing that an initial transparency reduction is followed by a subsequent transmittance increase during the self assembly of fluoroalkylsilanes on the SiOx surface, coherently with the surface roughness analysis data. Encouraging results were also obtained in terms of oleophobic properties improvement of the nanocoated surfaces.

Cold Wall Chemical Vapor Deposition Graphene-Based Conductive Tunable Film Barrier

“…In particular, it was designed to obtain a good graphene transfer without altering the PET film (short transfer time, etchant concentration, etc.). PET was chosen as a flexible substrate for its many advantages: − it is one of the most largely used polymers at an industrial scale, it has excellent optical and mechanical properties, it is lightweight, and it has a reasonable cost. The graphene film, synthesized by cold wall CVD, thanks to good continuity and quality works as a transparent barrier on a PET film to be applied with a double function: window electrode and a barrier even for flexible solar cells.…”

An Easy Route to Wettability Changes of Polyethylene Terephthalate–Silicon Oxide Substrate Films for High Barrier Applications, Surface-Modified with a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Fluoroalkylsilanes

“…The results of AFM measurements, reported in Figure 8 , show that the adopted experimental procedure for SAM treatment execution altered the SiOx coating layer, significantly increasing its roughness with respect to the original substrate. However, it is interesting to note that the effects are similar with and without FDTS, indicating that the most critical point of the procedure lies in the handling operations of the film rather than in the reaction with the silane molecule [ 31 ].…”