Grafting Silicone at Room Temperature-a Transparent, Scratch-resistant Nonstick Molecular Coating.
LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020;
36:4416-4431. [PMID:
32239949 PMCID:
PMC7191751 DOI:
10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03223]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Silicones are usually considered to be inert and, thus, not reactive with surfaces. Here we show that the most common silicone, methyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, spontaneously and stably bonds on glass-and any other material with silicon oxide surface chemistry-even at room temperature. As a result, a 2-5 nm thick and transparent coating, which shows extraordinary nonstick properties toward polar and nonpolar liquids, ice, and even super glue, is formed. Ten microliter drops of various liquids slide off a coated glass when the sample is inclined by less than 10°. Ice adhesion strength on a coated glass is only 2.7 ± 0.6 kPa, that is, more than 98% less than ice adhesion on an uncoated glass. The mechanically stable coating can be easily applied by painting, spraying, or roll-coating. Notably, the reaction does not require any excess energy or solvents, nor does it induce hazardous byproducts, which makes it an ideal option for environmentally sustainable surface modification in a myriad of technological applications.
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