Facile electrodeposition of corrosion-resistant superhydrophobic Ni-plated stainless-steel mesh for oil–water separation

Abstract

A simple constant-potential electrodeposition process was used to manufacture a superhydrophobic Ni-plated stainless-steel mesh (SNSSM) with high corrosion resistance and chemical stability for oil–water separation. This novel Ni plating had a mountain-like micro/nano structure. This resulted in a rough surface that was modified with stearic acid (SA) to provide a good superhydrophobicity as well as remarkable corrosion resistance, chemical stability, and oil–water separation. The effects of the electrodeposition potential and time on the microstructural evolution, wettability, and corrosion resistance were discussed. The SNSSM obtained by deposition at − 2.0 V for 60 min and modifying the surface with SA, had a water contact angle (WCA) of 156.5° and an oil contact angle (OCA) of 0°. The corrosion current density of the superhydrophobic coating in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was 1.737 × 10−8 A/cm2. The plating remained superhydrophobic after 96 h of immersion in the NaCl solution and maintained its superhydrophobicity in an environment with pH= 2–12. The SNSSM exhibited high separation efficiency and separation flux for mixtures of oil or organic solvents with water. In addition, it continued to exhibit a separation efficiency > 94.0% and stable reusability even after 30 cycles of separation.