Celik, Nusret, Kara, Aleyna Ozbasaran, Sahin, Furkan, Karagoz, Sultan, Yilmaz, Erkan, Genc, Aziz, Slater, Thomas J.A.  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0372-1551 and Onses, Mustafa Serdar
2026.
Sunlight driven generation of superhydrophobic photocatalysts via self-diffusion of free oligomers in cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane.
Chemical Engineering Journal
548
, 179343.
10.1016/j.cej.2026.179343
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Abstract
The integration of superhydrophobicity with photocatalytic functionality offers a powerful pathway toward surfaces capable of autonomous self-cleaning through both passive liquid repellency and active pollutant degradation. However, achieving this combination remains fundamentally challenging, as low-surface-energy modifiers often suppress photocatalytic activity or undergo photo-induced degradation. Here, we present a sunlight-driven strategy for generating superhydrophobic photocatalyst surfaces by leveraging the self-diffusion of free oligomers in cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (CL-PDMS) films. By depositing hydrophilic photocatalyst nanoparticles onto CL-PDMS surfaces and exposing to sunlight, PDMS oligomers are selectively grafted onto the photocatalyst surface, creating a concentration gradient that directs the self-diffusion of PDMS free oligomers toward the air interface. This self-diffusion process transforms hydrophilic photocatalysts with a contact angle of ~6° into superhydrophobic, surface exhibiting contact angles of up to 170° and sliding angles as low as 2°, without compromising their photocatalytic performance. Our findings reveal that oligomer diffusion in CL-PDMS, traditionally regarded as an undesirable phenomenon, can instead be harnessed as a functional mechanism for precise control over surface properties. This work establishes a new materials paradigm where sunlight-induced polymer diffusion enables practical and sustainable fabrication of bifunctional superhydrophobic and photocatalytic surfaces for a broad range of applications.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Chemistry Research Institutes & Centres > Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI) |
| Additional Information: | Rights Retention Policy applied |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 1385-8947 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 7 September 2026 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 9 July 2026 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Oct 2026 14:00 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188327 |
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