Superhydrophobic aerogel that does not require per-fluoro compounds or contain any fluorine

Abstract

Provided are superhydrophobic coatings, devices and articles including superhydrophobic coatings, and methods for preparing the superhydrophobic coatings. The exemplary superhydrophobic device can include a substrate component and one or more superhydrophobic coatings disposed over the substrate component, wherein at least one of the one or more superhydrophobic coatings has a water contact angle of at least about 150° and a contact angle hysteresis of less than about 1°. The one or more superhydrophobic coatings can include an ultra high water content acid catalyzed polysilicate gel, the polysilicate gel including a three dimensional network of silica particles having surface functional groups derivatized with a silylating agent and a plurality of pores.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A superhydrophobic device comprising: a substrate component; and one or more superhydrophobic coatings disposed over the substrate component, wherein the one or more superhydrophobic coatings comprises a three dimensional network of silica particles having surface functional groups derivatized with a silylating agent and a plurality of pores, wherein at least one of the one or more superhydrophobic coatings has a water contact angle of at least about 150° and a contact angle hysteresis of less than about 1°. 
     
     
         23 . The superhydrophobic device of  claim 22 , wherein the substrate component comprises at least one of a metal, a silicon wafer, a glass, a ceramic, a plastic, and a fabric. 
     
     
         24 . The superhydrophobic device of  claim 22 , wherein the silylating agent comprises one or more of trimethylchlorosilane, trichloromethylsilane, trichlorooctylsilane, hexamethyldisilazane, and any reactive silane comprising at least one hydrophobic ligand. 
     
     
         25 . The superhydrophobic device of  claim 22 , wherein each of the one or more superhydrophobic coatings has a thickness in the range of about 0.2 μm to about 3 μm. 
     
     
         26 . The superhydrophobic device of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the one or more superhydrophobic coatings is used as at least one of anti-icing coating, a defogging coating, an anti-microbial coating, a stain resistant coating, and a drag reduction coating in water environment. 
     
     
         27 . The superhydrophobic device of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the one or more superhydrophobic coatings resists corrosion for about 1800 hours or longer. 
     
     
         28 . An article comprising:
 a surface, wherein the surface comprises at least one region; and   
       a superhydrophobic coating disposed over the at least one region, wherein the superhydrophobic coating comprises a three dimensional network of silica particles having surface functional groups derivatized with a silylating agent and a plurality of pores,
 wherein the superhydrophobic coating has a water contact angle of at least about 150° and a contact angle hysteresis of less than about 1°. 
 
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the silylating agent is selected from the group consisting of trimethylchlorosilane, trichloromethylsilane, trichlorooctylsilane, hexamethyldisilazane, and any reactive silane comprising at least one hydrophobic ligand. 
     
     
         30 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the superhydrophobic coating has a thickness in the range of about 0.2 μm to about 3 μm. 
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the superhydrophobic coating resists corrosion for about 1800 hours or longer. 
     
     
         32 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the superhydrophobic coating is used for at least one of anti-icing coating, a defogging coating, an anti-microbial coating, a stain resistant coating, and a drag reduction coating in water environment. 
     
     
         33 . The article of  claim 28 , wherein the article comprises at least one of an antenna, a window, an automobile, an aircraft, a building, a textile, a boat, a partially and/or fully submerged structure in water.