Preparation of copper-manganese superhydrophobic coating with self-cleaning and anticorrosion resistance by one-step electrodeposition

In this paper, a straightforward one-step electrodeposition technique was used to produce superhydrophobic Cu/Mn (SCM) coatings on carbon steel surfaces. The structure and chemistry of the produced SCM coatings were examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Wettability of the coatings was ascertained by measuring contact angles. The results show that the optimal SCM coating (Cu2+/Mn2+ molar ratio of 0.4:1, current density of 3.0 A/dm2, and electrodeposition time of 15 min) has excellent micro-nano structures similar to masonry, and the water contact angle (WCA) and water slip angle (WSA) are 160.9±0.6° and 3±0.1°, respectively. The WCA of the coatings were tested through a series of tests, including mechanical properties, sandpaper properties, thermal stability, acid and alkali resistance, ice resistance and self-cleaning properties, and it was found that the WCA values of the optimal SCM coatings prepared were all over 150°, which indicated that the SCM coatings had excellent mechanical and chemical stability. In addition, the preferred SCM coating exhibits superior self-cleaning qualities and a corrosion resistance with an efficiency of up to 94.75% in corrosion protection. Furthermore, the work's outcomes demonstrate that the superhydrophobic coatings made using one-step electrodeposition can address the electrodeposition coatings' lack of long-term durability, which may have implications for industrial applications.