Fabrication of superhydrophobic layered double hydroxides films with different metal cations on anodized aluminum 2198 alloy

• LDH films with different metal cations were prepared for the first time on anodized practical aluminum 2198 alloy.
• Compared with Mg- and Co–Al LDH films, the Ni- and Zn–Al LDH films were more compact and displayed tighter adhesion with the AAO layer.
• All of the four types of LDH films showed excellent superhydrophobic property after surface treatment with PFDTMS.

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) films with different metal cations, such as Mg2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+, were fabricated on anodized aluminum 2198 alloy. The structure, morphology and composition of the LDH films were investigated. The results showed that different metal cations greatly influenced the growth and crystallization procedure of the LDH nanocrystals, which led to different morphologies of the LDH films. After surface treatment with 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PFDTMS) solution, all of the four types of LDH films showed excellent superhydrophobic property.