Production of copper superhydrophobic surfaces with micro-nano structuring using an electrochemical process and coting with hydrophobic promoter

Superhydrophobic surfaces have extensive applications like as heat transfer improvement, surface corrosion reduction, and fluid drag reduction. In this research, micro-nano structures were grown on the copper using an electrochemical process. The electrolyte is a two-component solution composing of Potassium persulfate and Sodium hydroxide. An octa-decane-thiol coating is used to reduce the surface energy. In the following, effects of different papmrters including the duration of the process and the concentration of electrolyte components on the contact angle increment are examined. To investigate the created micro/nano structures building block scanning electron microscopy pictures in different conditions were taken and inspected. X-ray diffraction analysis of samples’ surfaces showed that micro-nano structures are copper oxide (I). The maximum contact angle of 158.8 degrees was reached after 10 minute of electrochemical process and 24 hour of coating with low surface energy. Also, the durability of the samples exposing to the open air, pure water and seawater are studied. The samples retained their superhydrophobicity property after up to 6 weeks of exposition to the air; in addition, they showed good durability in contact with pure water and sea water