Development of a Hybrid Material: Superhydrophobic Nanoparticles in Paraffin Matrices for Water-Repellent Applications

In this article, we report on the fabrication and characterization of superhydrophobic materials based on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles embedded in a paraffin matrix. The aim is to create an effective and simple method for designing superhydrophobic materials with improved water repellency through the synergistic effect of surface roughness and low surface energy. The ZnO nanoparticles in paraffin solution were uniformly dispersed through sonication. The solution was then evaporated to obtain the superhydrophobic material. The superhydrophobicity of the material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. The superhydrophobicity of the material is confirmed by achieving contact angles greater than 150°. The results were attributed to the hierarchical surface feature and hydrophobicity. The structural properties confirmed the presence of ZnO in its crystalline form and uniform distribution in the paraffin matrix. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to confirm the superhydrophobicity. The results revealed weak interactions between paraffin and ZnO through van der Waals forces. Conversely, strong interactions between water molecules and ZnO were observed, thus confirming superhydrophobicity. The findings in this article confirm an effective method for designing superhydrophobic materials with various applications.