Fluorine-free fabrication of robust self-cleaning and anti-corrosion superhydrophobic coating with photocatalytic function for enhanced anti-biofouling property

Here, a fluorine-free robust superhydrophobic coating was fabricated on the Al alloy substrate by a simple and low-cost approach. Embed modified TiO2 nanoparticles onto semi-cured epoxy resin adhesive layer prominently reduces the content of low-energy materials (stearic acid) on the superhydrophobic coating. This prepared coating with hierarchical structures, re-entrant structures and low surface energy shows superhydrophobic. The superhydrophobic coating shows excellent high impalement pressure even water droplets with the velocity of 3.43 m/s. This coating also exhibits stability after different tests and noticeable enhancement of adhesive strength compared with the coating without the epoxy resin. Moreover, this coating presents enhanced durability verified by a sandpaper abrasion and decreased friction coefficient by a wear test. It moreover enabled noticeable self-cleaning property. This superhydrophobic coating also shows promising anti-corrosion property in both the corrosion solution and the salt spray compared with the Al alloy substrate. Notably, the superhydrophobic property combined with photocatalytic function prominently improves the anti-biofouling property of the Al alloy substrate due to the superhydrophobicity reducing organic and bacterial adhesion and the photocatalysis providing organic degradation and preventing bacterial adhesion. The fluorine-free robust multifunctional coating with superhydrophobic and photocatalytic properties can be applied to functionalize various solid surfaces.