Fabrication of Ultrahydrophobic ZnO by Vapor Phase Transport

A ultrahydrophobic ZnO film was synthesized on the Si substrates by a novel vapor phase transport method. The surface structural properties of as-synthesized ZnO film was characterized using scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The contact angles and the rolling angles on such films were measured through an optical contact angle meter. Wettability studies revealed the films exhibited a ultrahydrophobic behaviour with a higher contact angle of 166.8°±6.8° and lower rolling angle of less than 2°-a water droplet moved easily on the surface. SEM showed that compared with pure smooth nickel surface, a lotus-like structrure with micro-nano hierarchical papillae was obviously observed on the ultrahydrophobic ZnO film surface. Such a speccial surface microstructure may result in the ultrahydrophobicity.