Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Composites: Superhydrophobic Polymer Coatings with Photoreactive Perfluorinated Phthalocyanines

ABSTRACT We report partly fluorinated and silicon-based polymers that incorporate inorganic/organic materials capable of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) using only visible light and air. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which incorporated a known perfluorinated phthalocyanine photosensitizer, F64PcZn, supported on silicon and titanium oxides was further modified via chemical surface roughening to exhibit enhanced hydrophobicity when used as a coating. Water contact angles as high as ~159° have been observed, vs. ~ 92° for the unmodified polymer. The polymer matrix, however, does not resist the ROS it produces as evidenced by spectroscopic and SEM data. A polysiloxane matrix was similarly produced and, unlike the PVDF, resists ROS. This polymer hybrid produces singlet oxygen 1O2 by visible light illumination and decomposes efficiently several organic dyes present in aqueous solutions in contact with the polymer surface. The new materials may have broad applications in solid-state based degradation of undesired organic contaminants