Fabrication of superhydrophobic ZnO nanorods surface with corrosion resistance via combining thermal oxidation and surface modification

Superhydrophobic ZnO nanorods were successfully fabricated on zinc substrate via combining thermal oxidation and surface modification. The water contact angle on the superhydrophobic ZnO nanorods surface is 153.6±1°, and the slide angle is about 4°. Compared with the unmodified ZnO nanorods surface, the superhydrophobic ZnO nanorods surface could effectively enhance the corrosion resistance of zinc substrate. The presented approach may open a new avenue in the design and fabrication of superhydrophobic metal materials with anticorrosive property.