Abstract
Hydrophobicity and superhydrophobicity with self-cleaning properties are well-known characteristics of several natural surfaces, such as the leaves of the sacred lotus plant (Nelumbo nucifera). To achieve a superhydrophobic state, micro- and nanometer scale topography should be realized on a low surface energy material, or a low surface energy coating should be deposited on top of the micro-nano topography if the material is inherently hydrophilic. Tailoring the surface chemistry and topography to control the wetting properties between extreme wetting states enables a palette of functionalities, such as self-cleaning, antifogging, anti-biofouling etc. A variety of surface topographies have been realized in polymers, ceramics, and metals. Metallic surfaces are particularly important in several engineering applications (e.g., naval, aircrafts, buildings, automobile) and their transformation to superhydrophobic can provide additional functionalities, such as corrosion protection, drag reduction, and anti-icing properties. This review paper focuses on the recent advances on superhydrophobic metals and alloys which can be applicable in real life applications and aims to provide an overview of the most promising methods to achieve sustainable superhydrophobicity.
Highlights
Water control at extreme states, enables a palette of functionalities, such as self-cleaning, antifogging [2,3], anti-icing [4,5], anti-biofouling [6], high-binding [7], antibacterial activity [8,9,10], chemical shielding [11], drag reduction [12,13], etc
A hierarchical morphology is initially created on the metallic substrate by means of metal etching or oxidation, and the surface energy is minimized after the deposition of a thin hydrophobic layer
An organic, inorganic, or composite layer is deposited on a relatively smooth metallic substrate; this layer can be superhydrophobic or it can be transformed to superhydrophobic by creating appropriate morphology on its surface
Summary
Water control at extreme states (i.e., superhydrophobicity or superhydrophilicity [1]), enables a palette of functionalities, such as self-cleaning, antifogging [2,3], anti-icing [4,5], anti-biofouling [6], high-binding [7], antibacterial activity [8,9,10], chemical shielding [11], drag reduction [12,13], etc. The fabrication of superhydrophobic chemical vapormethods, deposition and plasma polymerization, or wet methods, such as metallic surfaces after the deposition of a thick, low surface energy nanostructured layer immersion, spin coating, etc. The fabrication of superhydrophobic metallic surfaces after on the metallic substrate can be achieved with several deposition methods, such as spray the deposition of a thick, low surface energy nanostructured layer on the metallic substrate coating, electrospinning, electrodeposition, and sol–gel. We review the most common about the progress in this field is scattered and should be updated to include the new methods for superhydrophobic transformation of metals and alloys with great economic achievements and methods that are applicable for a wide range andprovide industrialgeneric interest,fabrication such as aluminum, copper, magnesium, stainless steel, titanium, of metallic materials. We summarize the main findings and we provide some perspectives on the most promising approaches which can be adapted in real life for large-scale fabrication of durable superhydrophobic metals
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