Superhydrophobic silicone fiber mats fabricated by electrospinning from solution

Fine silicone fibers of 1 -- 20 $\mu $m diameter were fabricated from solution via electrospinning. These are the first examples of fine fibers prepared from silicone homopolymers. Fiber morphology (beaded, ribbon-like, smooth) and diameter were controlled. The nanoscale surface roughness of nonwoven fiber mats created with silicone fibers produced a superhydrophobic surface that had a water contact angle of $\sim $160$^{o}$. The superhydrophobic surface was made reversibly hydrophilic with exposure to oxygen plasma. The combination of high surface area and superhydrophobicity suggests potential applications in the areas of water-repellent textiles, filtration, adsorption and chemical separations, wound dressings, and fuel cells.