Corrosion inhibition by a superhydrophobic surface on aluminum that was prepared with a facile electrochemical route

Abstract

A superhydrophobic surface featuring high roughness and low surface energy is designed for effective corrosion protection on aluminum via a facile and cost-effective electrochemical route. The effects of the electrolyte composition and electrodeposition time on the surface wettability were investigated. Moreover, the corrosion resistance performance of the as-prepared superhydrophobic aluminum surface was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical noise techniques. The results show that the superhydrophobic aluminum surface obtained at 2 V for 20 min has a high static water contact angle of 155.8°. Both the average corrosion rate and pitting intensity are remarkably inhibited by the as-prepared superhydrophobic surface on aluminum. Moreover, the static water contact angle for the obtained superhydrophobic surface remains above 150° after exposure to 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for 30 days. This facile and economical superhydrophobic surface, with its excellent anti-corrosion property and stability, shows significant potential for use in industrial applications.