One-Step Generation of Reactive Superhydrophobic Surfaces via SiHCl₃-Based Silicone Nanofilaments

Superhydrophobic surfaces gain ever-growing attention because of their applicability in many (consumer) products/materials as they often display, among others, antifouling, anti-icing, and/or self-cleaning properties. A simple way to achieve superhydrophobicity is through the growth of silicone nanofilaments. These nanofilaments, however, are very often nonreactive and thus difficult to utilize in subsequent chemistries. In response, we have developed a single-step procedure to grow (SiHCl₃-based) silicone nanofilaments with selective reactivity that are intrinsically superhydrophobic. The silicone nanofilaments could be further functionalized via Pt-catalyzed hydrosilylation of exposed Si-H moieties. These surfaces are easily obtained using mild conditions and are stable under hydrolytic conditions (neutral water, 24 h at 80 °C) while remaining highly transparent, which makes them well suited for optical and photochemical experiments.