Bioinspired fabrication of stable and robust superhydrophobic steel surface with hierarchical flowerlike structure

A novel and facile electroless galvanic deposition approach is developed to fabricate superhydrophobic surface on steel substrates. The copper coated steel surfaces show hierarchical micro-nano structures similar to that of lotus leaf. After modified with perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane, the resultant surface shows robust superhydrophobicity with long-term stability. Moreover, the as-obtained fluoridated flowerlike copper surface possesses superhydrophobic properties not only for pure water but also for corrosive water under both acidic and basic conditions. We believe that this simple method can be applied to steel substrates with any size and shape and will broaden their application.

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► Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic steel surface by a novel electroless deposition method.
► Fascinating hierarchical flowerlike surface morphology with micro-nano structure.
► Exceptional superhydrophobicity with stability and durability.