Parahydrophobic surfaces by electrodeposition of PEDOT polymers with aromatic groups

Special Issue: Self Cleaning Coatings (Omniphobic, Superhydrophobic, Superhydrophilic, Oleophobic)International audienceWe report the electropolymerization of five 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers containing different aromatic groups (phenyl, diphenyl, biphenyl, naphthalene, pyrene). While with phenyl, diphenyl, biphenyl and naphthalene the polymerization occurs on the EDOT moiety, with pyrene both the EDOT and the pyrene moieties polymerize. Their electrodeposition gives rise to different surface structures with parahydrophobic properties (water apparent contact angle θ > θY where θY corresponds to the Young angle of the smooth surface of the same materials). The highest properties are obtained with PEDOT-BiPh (θ = 134.6° and extremely high water adhesion). The results are due the combination of surface structures with intrinsically hydrophilic polymers (θY of the smooth polymer < 90°)