A novel method to prepare superhydrophobic, UV resistance and anti-corrosion steel surface

Both TiO2 and SiO2 coated steel surfaces containing micro- and nanoscale binary structures with different surface roughness were successfully fabricated by means of a facile layer by layer deposition process followed by heat treatment. The resulting surfaces were modified by the low free energy chemical PTES (1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane). The experimental results of wettability exhibit that such modified surfaces have a strong repulsive force to water droplets, their static contact angles exceed 165°, receding angle >160°, advanced angles >170° and slide angle <1°. The resulting surfaces not only exhibit superhydrophobic properties but also show strong UV resistance (after coating SiO2 on top of TiO2) and strong stability to various solvents including 0.01% HCl solution.

► A new superhydrophobic surface with UV and anti-corrosion properties.
► Layer-by-layer deposition of titania and silica nanoparticles.
► Functionalized with PTES (1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane).
► Static contact angles >165°, advanced angles >170° and slide angle <1°.