One-step fabrication of superhydrophobic P(VDF-co-HFP) nanofibre membranes using electrospinning technique

In this study, superhydrophobic electrospun P(VDF-co-HFP) membranes were fabricated in a one-step electrospinning process. The effects of the key parameters of electrospinning (solution concentration, electrical potential, flow rate, and solvent) on the surface roughness, fiber formation, and hydrophobicity of the membranes were evaluated using Taguchi method. A 4 × 3 orthogonal array was utilized, and the results indicated that the solvent played the critical role in producing the superhydrophobic nanofibre membranes. It was demonstrated that it is possible to produce superhydrophobic membranes with P(VDF-co-HFP) without additional functionalisation and fillers. The highest water contact angle and the lowest contact angle hysteresis obtained were 156° and 5°, respectively, and the roughness values varied from 0.15 to 5.74 μm for the produced P(VDF-co-HFP) nanofibre membranes. The surface superhydrophobicity of the membranes was attributed to the specific structures consisting of a combination of beads and nanofibres.