Fabrication of amphiphobic surface by using titanium anodization for large-area three-dimensional substrates

Superamphiphobic functional Ti foils were fabricated using anodization techniques. By varying the supply voltage and anodization time, a two-step anodization method was used to maximize the contact angle of water and various oils. The morphology of the TiO2 nanotube surface is important to achieve superamphiphobicitiy. The anodized surface maintained good superamphiphobic stability with long-term storage. Furthermore, the wettability properties toward both water and various oils can be easily and reversibly switched from hydrophobic and oleophobic to hydrophilic and oleophilic, respectively, and vice versa via air-plasma treatment and fluorination. The developed simple technique can be applied to any large-area three-dimensional surfaces to fabricate amphiphobic Ti surfaces.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (101 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights•Superamphiphobic Ti foils were fabricated by simple two-step anodization method.•Amphiphobicity depends on morphology, tuned by vary voltage, and anodization time.•Reversible wettability switching properties were demonstrated for water and oils.•Long-term stability was studied of the as-prepared superamphiphobic Ti foil.•Method can be applied to any large-area curved surfaces to attain amphiphobicity.