Fabrication of superhydrophobic surface with corrosion resistance via cyclic chemical etching process on aluminum substrate

Abstract

Abstract Aluminum (Al) is a metal material commonly used in industry, but its surface is easily corroded. The superhydrophobic surface has great self-cleaning and anti-corrosion properties, and it is an ideal method to construct a functional aluminum surface. Here, a simple method based on cyclic chemical etching was proposed to achieve the superhydrophobic Al surface with honeycomb structures. The surface of the sample etched eight times comprised micro/nano-scale honeycomb cavities, while exhibiting a water contact angle (WCA) of 135°. After being treated with an octadecanethiol (C 18 H 38 S) methanol solution, this sample demonstrated a WCA of 153.1°. A self-cleaning test was performed on the superhydrophobic Al surface, showing the excellent self-cleaning property. Finally, the electrochemical anti-corrosion test demonstrated that the above-mentioned superhydrophobic Al surface had great corrosion resistance property. Overall, this work has enriched the theory and technology for fabricating aluminum to achieve superhydrophobic.