Tuning Hydrophobicity of TiO2 Layers with Silanization and Self-assembled Nanopatterning

The wettability of TiO2 layers is controlled by forming highly ordered arrays of nanocones using nanopatterning, based on self-assembly and dry etching. Nanopatterning of TiO2 layers is achieved via formation of self-assembled monolayers of SiO2 spheres fabricated using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, followed by dry etching. Compared to a thin film TiO2 layer, the nanopatterned TiO2 samples show a smaller static water contact angle, where the water contact angle decreases as the etching time increases, which is attributed to the Wenzel equation. When TiO2 layers are coated by 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane, we observed the opposite behavior, exhibiting superhydrophobicity (up to contact angle of $155^{\circ}$) on the nanopatterned TiO2 layers. Self-assembled nanopatterning of the TiO2 layer may provide an advanced method for producing multifunctional transparent layers with self-cleaning properties.