Exceptionally robust and conductive superhydrophobic free standing films of mesoporous carbon nanocapsule/polymer composite for multifunctional applications
A novel mesoporous carbon nanocapsule (MCC)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer composite based free standing film with multifunctional properties is fabricated by a facile solution approach that is appropriate for dip coating, brush on and spray applications. The MCC/PVDF composite film exhibits superhydrophobic properties with a water contact angle of approximately 160deg and a sliding angle of 5deg. The films have a high thermal stability (up to 350 degC in oxidative atmosphere) and are also electrically conductive (tunable from ~10 3 S m 1 to 10 2 S m 1) The superhydrophobicity is retained even in highly corrosive acidic and basic conditions (pH 1.29 13.54, concentrated HNO3 exposure and ammonium hydroxide solution) as well in a wide humidity range (35 83% The mesoporous carbon containers ~100 nm 1 mm size) also provide an interesting platform for encapsulating a variety of functional nanomaterials and activate release, thereby adding to the multi functionality of the superhydrophobic conductive films of exceptional environmental stability, mechanical strength ~0.1 GPa) and flexibility.