Binding Kineticsof Self-Assembled Monolayers of Fluorinated Phosphate Ester on Metal Oxides for Underwater Aerophilicity

The term “aerophilic surface” is used to describe superhydrophobic surfaces in the Cassie–Baxter wetting state that can trap air underwater. To create aerophilic surfaces, it is essential to achieve a synergy between a low surface energy coating and substrate surface roughness. While a variety of techniques have been established to create surface roughness, the development of rapid, scalable, low-cost, waste-free, efficient, and substrate-geometry-independent processes for depositing low surface energy coatings remains a challenge. This study demonstrates that fluorinated phosphate ester, with a surface tension as low as 15.31 mN m^–1, can form a self-assembled monolayer on metal oxide substrates within seconds using a facile wet-chemical approach. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze the formed self-assembled monolayers. Using nanotubular morphology as a rough substrate, we demonstrate the rapid formation of a superhydrophobic surface with a trapped air layer underwater.