Fabrication of non-modified metallic superhydrophobic surfaces with temperature insensitivity and self-healing ability

Metallic hierarchical texture was prepared by nickel-cobalt electro-deposition and subsequent replacement reaction to coat silver. Due to energetically favorable hydrocarbon adsorption on the silver film, contact angle of the surface increased gradually over time after exposure to laboratory air. The substrate became superhydrophobic after three days to aqueous droplets with various pH values. It was found that the surface remained stable after exposing to extreme temperatures in the wide range from -196 degrees C to 200 degrees C. Importantly, self-healing of superhydrophobicity can be easily accomplished and repeated in an ambient environment while hydrocarbon desorption occurred under high temperature. Furthermore, this approach can be easily applied to other conductive substrates. Published by AIP Publishing.