A Templateless Electropolymerization Approach to Porous Hydrophobic Nanostructures Using 3,4-Phenylenedioxythiophene Monomers with Electron-Withdrawing Groups

作者：Darmanin Thierry^*; Godeau Guihem; Guittard Frederic; Klimareva Elena L; Schewtschenko Irina; Perepichka Igor F^*

来源：ChemNanoMat, 2018, 4(7): 656-662.

DOI：10.1002/cnma.201800068

• conducting materials
• electropolymerization
• nanostructures
• polymers
• hydrophobic effect

Controlling the surface structures of conducting polymers is extremely important for various applications not only because of their unique optoelectronic properties but also owing to the wetting properties of these materials. Using a templateless electropolymerization approach, we report the formation of porous polymer nanostructures from a series of 3,4-(1,2-phenylenedioxy)(PheDOT) derivatives with electron-withdrawing side groups (Cl, CN, CF3, SO2CH3). In this templateless electropolymerization, trace water present in solution is sufficient to produce gas bubbles (O-2 and H-2) and, as a consequence, to form the porous nanostructures with a tendency to form nanotubes on the surface. We show that the substituents in PheDOT play an important role to control the porous nanostructures and, as a consequence, the surface hydrophobicity. Using 3,4-(1,3-propylenedioxy)type (ProDOT) derivative F-4-BnDOT, the formation of densely packed nanofibers was demonstrated, and these are not a result of the presence of trace water. In this case, the surfaces are even more hydrophobic than for PheDOT-based polymers, displaying extremely high apparent water contact angles (theta(w )= 138-144 degrees) and strong water adhesion. Such surfaces from electropolymerized conducting polymers could be used in a number of technological applications, e.g. self-cleaning surfaces, micropatterning, water harvesting and microfluid systems.

• 出版日期2018-7