After the photochemical generation of carboxylates onto surfaces of several aromatic polymers, complexes based on zirconyl-(IV)-acetylacetonate are immobilized. These zirconium compounds tend to form strong bonds to carboxylates. Subsequently, zirconium modified surfaces are treated with solutions of a highly fluorinated lithium carboxylate yielding oil- and water-repellent surfaces. It is shown that combined with excimer-UV-laser-induced micro structuring, the treatments lead to super-repellent surfaces showing contact angles of water up to 160degrees. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.