Superhydrophobic Surfaces of Electrodeposited Polypyrroles Bearing Fluorinated Liquid Crystalline Segments

• Published in: Macromolecules Vol. 43; no. 22; pp. 9365 - 9370
• Main Authors: Darmanin, Thierry, Taffin de Givenchy, Elisabeth, Guittard, Frederic
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 23-11-2010
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Material chemistry; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Polymers and radiations; Fluorine containing polymer; Aromatic polymer; Pyrrole derivative polymer; Chiral compound; Hydrophobicity; Experimental study; Electrochemical polymerization; Lateral group; Conjugated polymer; Electrochemical properties; Thioester; Morphology; Preparation; Microroughness; Surface properties; Hydrophobic group; Sulfur containing polymer
• ISSN: 0024-9297; 1520-5835
• DOI: 10.1021/ma101914j

Two intrinsic properties of fluorinated tails (F-butyl to F-octyl) were combined in the elaboration of superhydrophobic surfaces by electrochemical polymerization: their promesogenic characteristic and their ability to increase both hydrophobicity and oleophobicity. We report the synthesis and the characterization of pyrrole monomers bearing fluorinated liquid crystalline segments. The electrodeposited corresponding polymer films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, static and dynamic contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. Sticky superhydrophobic surfaces were obtained with a F-hexyl or a F-octyl tail. The presence of mesogenic segments improves the surface hydrophobicity and increases the surface roughness, clearly observed with F-butyl and F-hexyl chains.