Superhydrophilic Silica Coatings via a Sequential Dipping Process

A superhydrophilic silica coating was prepared using a sequential dipping process involving acid-catalyzed silica, base-catalyzed silica, and 3-(trihydroxysilyl)propanesulfonic acid. Acid-catalyzed and base-catalyzed silica particles with varying diameters were synthesized by hydrolyzing tetraethyl...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Junbao Xie, Anqi Liang, Qin Lin, Nantian Chen, Abbas Ahmed, Xiaoyan Li, Rongkun Jian, Luyi Sun, Fuchuan Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1857
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Summary:A superhydrophilic silica coating was prepared using a sequential dipping process involving acid-catalyzed silica, base-catalyzed silica, and 3-(trihydroxysilyl)propanesulfonic acid. Acid-catalyzed and base-catalyzed silica particles with varying diameters were synthesized by hydrolyzing tetraethyl orthosilicate using HCl and NH<sub>3</sub>·H<sub>2</sub>O as catalysts, respectively. 3-(Trihydroxysilyl)propanesulfonic acid was obtained by oxidizing mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane with hydrogen peroxide under acidic conditions. The resulting silica coating exhibited exceptional superhydrophilicity, with a water static contact angle of 5.0°, and demonstrated underwater superoleophobicity, with a hexadecane underwater contact angle exceeding 140°. Surfaces coated with the superhydrophilic silica coatings showed excellent performances in oil–water separation, anti-protein adsorption, and anti-fogging applications.
ISSN:1420-3049