Effect of deposition parameters on the wettability and microstructure of superhydrophobic films with hierarchical micro–nano structures

Superhydrophobic films with hierarchical micro-nano structures were deposited on glass substrates by solution immersion method from a solution containing cobalt chloride, urea and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Subsequently the films were hydrophobized with a low surface energy material like octadecanoic acid under ambient conditions resulting in superhydrophobic surfaces with water contact angle (WCA) of about 168° and contact angle hysteresis of 1°. The effect of deposition parameters such as solution composition, temperature, deposition time and alkanoic acid treatment on surface morphology and wettability of the films was studied. Mechanism of formation of cobalt chloride carbonate hydroxide film is discussed. Addition of CTAB to the solution resulted in a change in the surface morphology of the deposited films with flower-like structures. The wettability of films obtained under different process conditions was correlated to surface roughness using Wenzel and Cassie models.