Super-hydrophobicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes treated by a glow discharge

Super-hydrophobic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by employing tetrafluoromethane (CF4) glow discharge plasma at low pressure to provide roughness and fluorination in CNT powders. The water droplet falling freely on the super-hydrophobic CNT powders bounced dynamically and then a contact angle (CA) was about 165° in static state, while the droplet falling freely on the untreated CNT powders was immediately absorbed. From the experimental results of SEM, TEM and XPS, the super-hydrophobicity of the CNT powders was resulted from the combined effects of the chemical modification of the surfaces and surface roughness.