Simple and fast wettability control of aminosilanized surfaces with carboxylic acids

Černoga, Andraž (author), Papan Djaniš, Jelena (author), Lisjak, Darja (author), Iskra, Jernej (author), Prinčič, Griša Grigorij (author)

This study investigates the rapid and reversible transition between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states on aminosilanized glass substrates using ion pair formation between surface-bound amines and organic/inorganic acids. Glass surfaces were prepared via piranha solution treatment, followed by drying and chemical vapor deposition of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Water contact angle measurements revealed a sharp transition in surface wettability upon treatment with mineral acids while treatment with carboxylic acids shows a strong dependence on carbon chain length. This approach utilizes non-fluorinated long-chain carboxylic acids as environmentally friendly alternatives to PFAS, aligning with current global efforts for sustainable engineering. The system’s ability to cycle between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states within min per cycle demonstrates the efficiency of this ion pair-driven approach compared to conventional methods. Work offers insights into optimizing surface modifications for applications such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, microfluidics and dynamic wettability control without the need for prolonged processing times and complicated and expensive equipment.

• Language: English
• Keywords: reverse wettability, aminosilane, ion pair, self-cleaning surface, organic coatings, hydrophobicity, wettability, APTMS, carboxylic acids, silanization
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 8 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 76, art. 107906
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182769
• UDC: 54
• ISSN on article: 2468-0230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107906
• COBISS.SI-ID: 254891267
• Publication date in RUL: 22.05.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Surfaces and interfaces
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2468-0230
• COBISS.SI-ID: 526516249

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: karboksilne kisline