Question

How would the wettability of silica behave on changing silanol surface anchoring groups from –O₃SiCH₃ to –O₃Si(CH₂)₈CH₃ to –O₃Si(CF₂)₈CF₃ ?

Answer 1

The hydrocarbon terminating silicon surfaces and the other terephthalate groups form layers of polyelectrolyte which facilitates end-functioned macromolecular building blocks.

Since these silanes are non-functioning groups they would not have impact on its chemical reactivity.

The wettability of silica also depends on polar nature of water (pulling bonded electrons towards itself by oxygen due to its more electronegativity).

Thus based on end silane groups the polar nature of water molecule is adjusting to suit its interaction with it.