Highly Efficient and Large-Scale Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Alumina Surface with Strong Stability Based on Self-Congregated Alumina Nanowires

Abstract

In this study, a large-area superhydrophobic alumina surface with a series of superior properties was fabricated via an economical, simple, and highly effective one-step anodization process, and subsequently modified with low-surface-energy film. The effects of the anodization parameters including electrochemical anodization time, current density, and electrolyte temperature on surface morphology and surface wettability were investigated in detail. The hierarchical alumina pyramids-on-pores (HAPOP) rough structure which was produced quickly through the one-step anodization process together with a low-surface-energy film deposition [1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PDES) and stearic acid (STA)] confer excellent superhydrophobicity and an extremely low sliding angle. Both the PDES-modified superhydrophobic (PDES-MS) and the STA-modified superhydrophobic (STA-MS) surfaces present fascinating nonwetting and extremely slippery behaviors. The chemical stability and mechanical durability of the PDES-MS and STA-MS surfaces were evaluated and discussed. Compared with the STA-MS surface, the as-prepared PDES-MS surface possesses an amazing chemical stability which not only can repel cool liquids (water, HCl/NaOH solutions, around 25 °C), but also can show excellent resistance to a series of hot liquids (water, HCl/NaOH solutions, 30-100 °C) and hot beverages (coffee, milk, tea, 80 °C). Moreover, the PDES-MS surface also presents excellent stability toward immersion in various organic solvents, high temperature, and long time period. In particular, the PDES-MS surface achieves good mechanical durability which can withstand ultrasonication treatment, finger-touch, multiple fold, peeling by adhesive tape, and even abrasion test treatments without losing superhydrophobicity. The corrosion resistance and durability of the diverse-modified superhydrophobic surfaces were also examined. These fascinating performances makes the present method suitable for large-scale industrial fabrication of chemically stable and mechanically robust superhydrophobic surfaces.

Superhydrophobic surfaces for corrosion protection: a review of recent progresses and future directions

“…[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] Stable superhydrophobic films were prepared by anodization of titanium and subsequent immersion in a methanol solution of hydrolyzed PFOTES (Fig. 5).…”

Designing bioinspired superoleophobic surfaces

“…Regardless, fluorosilane layers have been investigated on silicone nanofilaments, 25 porous silicon, 26 etched bulk metallic glasses, 27 silica particle-functionalized cotton fibers, 28 micro-and nanopatterned titania surfaces, 29 fibrous substrates with vapor-phase polymerized polypyrrole, 30 nanocellulose aerogel, 31 titania-SWNT composites, 32 polymer-silica composites, 33 silica-encased carbon soot, 34 hierarchical copper oxide, 35 electrospun titania, 36 nanostructured ferroselite, 37 hierarchical zinc oxide, 38 silica-MWNT composites, 39 plasma-etched polymers, 40 acid-etched aluminium, 41 and nanofiber aerogels. 42 Many examples also opt to create re-entrant patterns on silicon, 6,[43][44][45] previously, re-entrant structures enable high contact angles for liquids that typically exhibit low angles (<90 • ) on the corresponding flat surface.…”

Anti-icing performance in glaze ice of nanostructured film prepared by RF magnetron sputtering

“…The water droplet would easily spread on the annealed sample indicating that the annealed sample without surface modification is hydrophilic. As reported in previous literatures [26,27], the general process to obtain a SHP surface involves steps of construction of surface roughness and modification with low surface energy materials. Organosilanes are important surfactants that have been used to modify surfaces bearing hydroxyl groups [28].…”