Effect of Tetrafluorethane and Sulfur Hexafluoride Plasma Treatment on Wettability of Boron Nitride Nano-Sheets

H. Liua, b, X. Wanga, Z. Lana, S. Liua aSchool of Physics and Electronic Information Engineering, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, China bDepartment of Basic Courses, Wuhan Donghu University, Wuhan, China

Received: April 11, 2019; revised version May 13, 2019; in final form May 17, 2019

Full Text PDF

Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) consisting of 2D hexagonal boron nitride nano-layers were deposited, onto silicon substrates, via chemical vapour deposition process at 1000°. The BNNS were functionalized in argon plasma admixed with sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) or tetrafluorethane (C2H2F4) gases. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Water contact angle (WCA) measurements were used to characterize the BNNS before and after plasma modification. Significant changes in the surface features, upon plasma treatments of the BNNS, were noticed during scanning and transmission electron microscopy examinations. The XPS analyses revealed an extensive surface fluorination in the case of Ar/SF6 plasma, while formation of fluoro-carbon layer coating on the surface of BNNS was noticed in the case of Ar/C2H2F4 plasma. Furthermore, the plasma treatments made BNNS super-hydrophobic with a contact angle as high as 167.9° compared to 118.2° for the untreated BNNS. The wettability of the nanostructures, as measured form the water contact angle measurements, is discussed by referring to changes in surface chemistry and morphology after plasma treatment. The stability of BNNS at high temperatures, coupled with plasma treatment can make this material a potential candidate as super-hydrophobic coating for self-cleaning application at the industrial level.

DOI:10.12693/APhysPolA.136.467 topics: boron nitride, nano-sheets, XPS, contact angle, plasma treatment, super-hydrophobic